ABSTRACT
Background
Behavioral obesity interventions using an acceptance‐based therapy (ABT) approach have demonstrated efficacy for adults, yet feasibility and acceptability of tailoring an ABT intervention for adolescents remains unknown.
Objective
This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of an ABT healthy lifestyle intervention among diverse adolescent cisgender girls with overweight/obesity (OW/OB).
Methods
Adolescent cisgender girls ages 14 to 19 with a BMI≥ 85th percentile‐for‐sex‐and‐age were recruited for participation in a single‐arm feasibility study. The primary outcomes were recruitment and retention while the secondary outcome was change in BMI Z‐score over the 6‐month intervention. Exploratory outcomes included obesity‐related factors, health‐related behaviors, and psychological factors.
Results
Recruitment goals were achieved; thirteen adolescents (>60% racial/ethnic minorities) participated in the intervention, and eleven completed the intervention (85% retention). In completers (n=11), a mean decrease in BMI Z‐score of ‐0.15 (SD=0.34, Cohen’s d=‐0.44) was observed. Improvements were also noted for change in percentage of 95th percentile (d=‐0.35), percent body fat (d=‐0.35), quality of life (d=0.71), psychological flexibility (d=‐0.86), and depression (d=‐0.86).
Conclusions
These preliminary findings suggest an ABT healthy lifestyle intervention tailored for adolescent cisgender girls with OW/OB may be an acceptable treatment that could lead to improvements in BMI Z‐score, obesity‐related measures, and psychological outcomes.
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