Trauma Therapy for Weight-Based Bullying in Children

Summary

The goal of this feasibility study is to learn whether a trauma therapy intervention for children and adolescents who have experienced weight-based bullying can be successfully delivered within a pediatric weight management program. The intervention is informed by Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) principles and is designed to address trauma-related distress, body image concerns, emotional difficulties, and eating-related challenges associated with weight-based bullying. The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Can this trauma therapy intervention be feasibly implemented within the HEAL Program at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre?
* Is the intervention acceptable and helpful for participating children, adolescents, and caregivers?
* Are exploratory changes observed in trauma symptoms, emotional well-being, self-esteem, eating-related concerns, and weight-related distress following participation in the intervention?

Participants will:

* Participate in approximately 12 weekly virtual therapy sessions, with flexibility for additional sessions if clinically needed
* Complete questionnaires before and after treatment related to emotional well-being, trauma symptoms, eating-related concerns, and body image
* Participate in selected caregiver-supported sessions during treatment
* Optionally complete a brief feedback interview about their experience in the program after treatment is completed

The study will also examine recruitment, attendance, treatment completion, and participant satisfaction to help determine whether this intervention can be implemented in routine clinical care settings.

Conditions

• Pediatric Obesity
• Weight-based Bullying
• Psychological Trauma

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Trauma Therapy for Weight-Based Bullying Informed by TF-CBT

This intervention is a trauma therapy program for children and adolescents experiencing distress related to weight-based bullying. The intervention is informed by the core principles and components of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is adapted to address bullying-related trauma, body image concerns, emotional distress, maladaptive eating behaviours, and weight-related stigma. The intervention includes psychoeducation, emotional regulation and coping skills, cognitive coping strategies, trauma narrative development and processing, body image and stigma-related cognitive restructuring, caregiver support strategies, and safety planning as clinically indicated. Treatment is developmentally tailored and delivered virtually within the HEAL Program at Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre. Participants will complete approximately 12 weekly therapy sessions delivered by a trained MSW/RSW clinician.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Western University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marina Ybarra, MD, MSc · Division of Paediatric Endocrinology - Department of Paediatrics

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-01

Primary Completion

2028-06-30

Completion

2028-12-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations