Addressing Weight Bias Internalization to Improve Adolescent Weight Management Outcomes: Randomized Pilot Trial

Part of paid clinical trials in Providence, Rhode Island.

Sponsor
The Miriam Hospital
Study ID
NCT06864208
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Biological Markers of Inflammation
  • Biological Markers of Stress
  • Body Weight
  • Eating Behaviors
  • Physiological Stress
  • Weight
  • Weight Bias
  • Weight Stigma

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
13 Years - 17 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Behavioral Weight Management — BEHAVIORAL
    Prescription of diet and physical activity strategies paired with behavioral strategies for weight management
  • Weight Bias Internalization — BEHAVIORAL
    Addressing weight stigma and improving weight-related self-perception through challenging weight-related stereotypes, practicing self-compassion, reducing self-criticism, and coping with weight stigma

Study Details

Weight stigma and weight bias internalization (WBI) are common among adolescents at higher weight statuses. WBI is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. The current study aims to test an intervention for weight stigma and WBI combined with an evidence-based adolescent weight management program. Eligible adolescents (13-17) will be assigned by chance to one of two groups: 1) a 4-week intervention focused on weight stigma and WBI followed by a 16-week behavioral weight management program; or 2) a 4-week health information control (to include non-weight-related health promotion topics such as smoking and skin cancer prevention) followed by the same 16-week weight management program but without the WBI and weight stigma content. Study outcomes will be assessed at the 4-week and post-treatment (20 week) timepoints.

Key Dates

Start date
Mar 25, 2025
Status verified
Feb 2025
Primary completion
Feb 28, 2027
Completion
Feb 28, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
64 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Weight Bias Internalization + Behavioral Weight Management Intervention (WBI + BWM)
    WBI+BWM is a multicomponent behavioral weight loss intervention designed to address both weight bias internalization and weight status in adolescents. The first four sessions of the intervention will be focused on targeted WBI/weight stigma content, followed by 16 sessions addressing both weight stigma/WBI and evidence-based weight management strategies. Weekly meetings are scheduled for 75 minutes and are facilitated by a behavioral expert (e.g., PhD in clinical psychology). Caregivers attend 4 of the 20 weekly groups with their teens.
  • Active Comparator: Health Information Control + Behavioral Weight Management Intervention (HIC + BWM)
    The first four sessions (weeks 1-4) of the HIC+BWM group will focus on health promotion for adolescent health concerns other than weight management (e.g., skin cancer prevention, smoking cessation). This health information control will allow for testing of the initial 4- week WBI intervention as compared to a contact-matched control. Following the four-week health education control, the remaining 16 sessions will focus on evidence-based weight management strategies. Caregivers attend 4 of the 20 weekly groups with their teens.

Primary Outcome Measure

Total score on the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 4-weeks post-intervention start, Post-Treatment (20 weeks) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
The Miriam HospitalProvidenceRhode Island02903
Katherine Darling, PhD
[email protected]
401-793-8688
Andrea M Grenga, BA
[email protected]
401-793-8997
Katherine Darling, PhD (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

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