Evaluating the Feasibility of a Stepped-care Approach to Treating Adolescents With Binge and Loss of Control Eating

Summary

There are limited evidence-based treatments for adolescents with binge eating and fewer specifically targeting adolescents with both binge eating and overweight/obesity. The existing research for adolescents with overweight/obesity and loss of control (LOC) eating supports a stepped-care model of treatment in which enhanced behavioral weight loss treatment is the first line of treatment followed by more intensive therapeutic treatment for individuals with remaining emotional eating difficulties. Thus, in this proposed study, the investigators will systematically develop a stepped-care protocol and manualized interventions for adolescents with LOC and binge eating behaviors. The investigators will then evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the interventions in a pilot trial and gather preliminary outcome data to inform development of a subsequent randomized controlled trial.

Conditions

• Overweight and Obesity
• Pediatric Obesity
• Eating, Binge

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Pathways to Health

Manualized sessions will follow an acceptance based behavioral weight loss treatment approach, including guided goal-setting and self-monitoring, identifying barriers and solutions, contingency management, stimulus control, dealing with setbacks and relapse prevention. Daily food and physical activity are logged and monitored. Parents learn strategies to support and facilitate their child's weight management via family-based change.

BEHAVIORAL

Be4U

This intervention is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The core elements include regulating eating patterns, self-monitoring, developing openness to an acceptance perspective, fostering a willingness to accept distress, teaching defusion from distressing thoughts and feelings, practicing mindful awareness, fostering self-as-context, and directing patients towards clarifying and focusing on life values. Self-monitoring of eating behaviors and emotions are encouraged using a free app that facilitates electronic self-monitoring of eating patterns and symptoms. For participants who elect not to use this app, paper self-monitoring records are provided.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Virginia Commonwealth University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Rachel W Gow, PhD · Virginia Commonwealth University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-02-15

Primary Completion

2018-09-10

Completion

2018-11-07

Countries

• United States

Study Locations