Pediatrics · Endocrinology · 2 h ago
Emotion-regulation skills may reduce weight regain after adolescent behavioral treatment
In a randomized clinical trial of 166 adolescents, family-based behavioral treatment (FBT) with added emotion-regulation skills did not improve weight loss at the end of six months of treatment compared with FBT alone. At 12-month follow-up, the combined program was associated with less weight regain and lower emotional-eating scores.
- Trial included 166 adolescent-parent dyads.
- Added emotion-regulation skills did not improve end-of-treatment weight loss.
- Less weight regain was observed at 12-month follow-up.
- Emotional-eating scores were lower with the combined program.
This parallel-group randomized clinical trial enrolled 166 adolescents aged 13 to 16 years with BMI at or above the 85th percentile and below the 99.9th percentile, together with a parent. Participants were treated at two university clinics from 2019 to 2024. Both groups received six months of family-based behavioral treatment, including nutrition, physical activity, behavior-change and parenting skills. The intervention group also received skills drawn from dialectical behavior therapy and emotion-focused therapy. Most sessions and assessments were delivered remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of treatment, weight loss did not differ significantly between groups (between-group BMI z-score difference, 0.03; 95% CI, −0.05 to 0.10). At 12-month follow-up, the added-skills group had less weight regain (difference, −0.09; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.02). Clinically significant weight loss of at least 0.20 BMI z-score was observed in 22% of the combined-treatment group and 4% of the FBT-only group. Emotional-eating scores were also lower with the added skills; parent weight and adolescent emotion-regulation scores did not differ.
The findings suggest a possible benefit for maintaining weight change, rather than greater initial weight loss. Follow-up was limited to 12 months, and the study was conducted at two university clinics, with much of the care delivered remotely; results may not generalize to other settings or delivery formats.
In practice
For adolescents aged 13 to 16 years with elevated BMI receiving family-based behavioral treatment, adding emotion-regulation skills did not improve weight loss at treatment completion but was associated with less weight regain and lower emotional-eating scores at 12 months. This randomized trial supports further evaluation of the combined approach, but does not establish that it should replace standard FBT. Follow-up was limited to 12 months, and most sessions were delivered remotely at two university clinics, which may limit applicability elsewhere.
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JAMA Network Open: Emotion-Focused Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment for Adolescents ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.