NCT02334202

Preventing Obesity in Military Communities, Adolescents

Preventing Obesity in Military Communities, Adolescents (POMC-Adolescents)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 12 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This research study is aimed at the prevention of excessive weight gain in female military dependents at high risk for adult obesity. The purpose of this study is to determine whether reducing Loss of Control (LOC) eating and associated indicators through use of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) will be feasible and acceptable to female adolescent dependents who report such behaviors. Moreover, patterns in the data will be examined to assess whether IPT influences body weight gain trajectories and prevent worsening disordered eating and metabolic functioning among female military dependents at heightened risk for unhealthy weight gain.

Detailed description

The increased prevalence of obesity among the children of military personnel has paralleled that observed in the civilian population. Disordered eating, especially binge or loss of control (LOC) eating, is common among adolescents and is a salient risk factor for obesity and the development of exacerbated disordered eating and depressive symptoms. The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) to slow the trajectory of weight gain in adolescent girls at high-risk for adult obesity by virtue of elevated body mass index (BMI) percentile and LOC eating. IPT targets the difficult social functioning and stressful events that are associated with LOC and highly relevant to the adolescent youth from military families. Adolescent military dependents will be randomized to receive either the IPT weight gain prevention program or a health education (HE) control condition, for 12 weekly group sessions. Adolescents' weight status, eating behaviors, and mood will be assessed at baseline, immediately following the prevention program (12-weeks), and at 1-year follow-up. At 2-year and 3-year follow-up time points, participants' BMI and physiologic data will be collected via the Military Health System's electronic medical record system. It is hypothesized that adolescents who receive the IPT group program will show significantly less weight gain (or more weight loss) relative to those randomized to HE at 3-year follow-up. Additionally, it is hypothesized that adolescents receiving IPT (as compared to HE) will demonstrate improvements on secondary outcomes of interest, including the presence and frequency of classic binge eating episodes, as well as obesity-related physiological measures of health (e.g., fasting insulin). The overall goal of the study is to prevent excess weight gain and adult obesity, and to prevent worsening disordered eating and metabolic functioning among overweight military dependents at risk for adult obesity and binge eating disorders.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Weight Gain
• Disordered Eating
• Eating Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Interpersonal Psychotherapy-Weight Gain	Participants will have 1 individual pre-group session when each participant meets with the group leaders so that they can learn about each girl's significant relationships, set goals for the program, and so each girl can learn about group participation and format. Participants then will begin IPT-WG which is designed to decrease excessive weight gain among adolescents ages 12-17 years who are at risk for adult obesity. The IPT-WG program has been adapted to be appropriate for military dependents. The IPT-WG group meets for 12 consecutive, weekly group meetings and involves developing strategies for dealing with the problems girls struggle with that may lead to increased eating. At the 6th week of the group, the group leaders meet with each participant to review their progress and goals.
OTHER	Health Education	The health education group will follow the "HEY-Durham" health program designed by researchers at Duke University. This program, designed to be delivered to youth attending community high schools, was adapted to a 12-week program (each with a 90 minute session). Girls will come in for a 1.5-hour group meeting once a week for 12 weeks (12 times total). Before beginning the group, girls will meet with group leaders to review each adolescent's family health history. The curriculum includes focus on various health topics, including avoiding alcohol, drug and tobacco use, nutrition and body image, nonviolent conflict resolution, sun safety, exercise, and domestic violence.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-11-01
• Primary completion: 2018-08-01
• Completion: 2018-08-01
• First posted: 2015-01-08
• Last updated: 2018-08-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States