Actively Recruiting
Piloting an Intervention to Address Weight Bias Internalization to Improve Adolescent Weight Management Outcomes
Led by The Miriam Hospital · Updated on 2025-09-24
64
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating an intervention aimed at reducing weight bias internalization (WBI) and weight stigma among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years who have a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. The study will examine whether addressing WBI alongside a behavioral weight management program can improve physical and mental health outcomes, including biological stress markers and eating behaviors. This randomized pilot trial compares this combined intervention to a control group receiving general health information plus weight management. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group will receive a 4-week program focused on weight stigma and WBI, followed by a 16-week behavioral weight management intervention that integrates WBI content. The second group will receive 4 weeks of health education on topics unrelated to weight, such as smoking cessation and skin cancer prevention, followed by the same 16-week behavioral weight management program without WBI content. Weekly 75-minute sessions are led by behavioral experts, and caregivers participate in four sessions with their teens. During the 20-week study, participants will attend weekly group sessions and undergo assessments at the start, after 4 weeks, and at the end of the program (20 weeks). These assessments include questionnaires measuring WBI, weight-related teasing, and eating behaviors, as well as biological tests for stress and inflammation markers like cortisol, CRP, and IL-6. Researchers will also track attendance, retention, and intervention acceptability. The study aims to gather data for larger future trials focused on adolescent weight management.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Addressing Weight Bias Internalization to Improve Adolescent Weight Management Outcomes: Randomized Pilot Trial
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Speak English
- Be 13 to 17 years old
- Have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex
- Have at least one caregiver available to provide consent and participate in sessions
- Agree to participate in the study
You will not qualify if you...
- Cognitive impairment or developmental delay that prevents participation in group sessions
- Currently participating in a weight management program or recent weight loss of 5% or more of body weight
- Medical conditions that affect weight or prevent participation
- Current use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 20 weeks
Participants attend weekly 75-minute group sessions focused first on addressing weight bias internalization or health promotion topics, followed by evidence-based behavioral weight management strategies. Caregivers join four of these sessions with their teens.
Weekly visits for 20 weeks
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
The Miriam Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02903
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Katherine Darling, PhD
A
Andrea M Grenga, BA
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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