Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Addressing Overweight and Obesity Among Qatari Youth

Summary

Levels of overweight and obesity have reached alarming proportions in Qatar and other Gulf nations. In Qatar, the need to establish national strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity has been recognized in the new Qatar National Health Strategy 2011-2016, which stresses the need for prevention. In fact, the Qatar National Nutrition and Physical Activity Action Plan 2011-2016 calls for nutrition and physical activity interventions for the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases such as diabetes. The treatment and prevention of childhood obesity is largely through lifestyle changes- encouraging health eating and physical activity and discouraging sedentary behavior. However, changing such behaviors is complex and requires a combination of integrated approaches to tackle such a multifaceted problem. Herein, the investigators set out to implement and evaluate a novel weight management program for Qatari school children at the vulnerable age of 9-12 years. The project incorporates a cognitive-behavioral approach that involves developing social and emotional competences, promotion healthy dietary habits, development of physical literacy, and use of activity monitoring devices to promote increased activity while enlisting family involvement in an attempt to maintain weight loss in the long term. This project seeks to also take things further by integrating a range of interventions that use cutting edge insights from the behavioral sciences through the use of MINDSPACE approach (MINDSPACE: Messenger, Incentive, Norms, Default, Salience, Priming, Affect, Commitment, Ego) in conjunction with technology tools for monitoring activity and providing ongoing support through the use of social media. The intervention involves a multi-cohort intervention involving 500 Qatari children over 5 years to be conducted in three phases (1) intensive weight loss camps, (2) after-school clubs as supplement/consolidation, and (3) maintenance through web and social/family support.

Conditions

• Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Weight loss program for school children

The intervention involves developing social and emotional competences, promotion of healthy lifestyle, use of activity monitoring devices to promote increased activity and enlisting family to maintain weight loss in the long term. The intervention group receives all program components: 1. Parent information sessions and orientation, 2. Two week intensive weight loss and lifestyle education camp, 3. after school clubs for consolidation (including physical activity and lifestyle education), and 4. wearable sensors and social media modules with parental involvement. Assessed outcomes include pre- and post-measurement at each phase included: weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, physical activity, dietary intakes, self-esteem, and subjective well-being.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Imperial College London

  collaborator OTHER

• Hamad Medical Corporation

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Supreme Council Of Health, Qatar

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Aspetar

  collaborator OTHER

• Leeds Beckett University

  collaborator OTHER

• Qatar University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mohamed Ahmedna, PhD · Qatar University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

9 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-08-31

Primary Completion

2017-09-30

Completion

2018-03-31

Countries

• Qatar

Study Locations