Open trial of a novel adolescent mindfulness-based weight control intervention: COVID-19 adaptations

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescents with overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) report profound psychological stressors. Yet, traditional adolescent behavioral weight control interventions have not focally targeted stress reduction. Mindfulness skills may benefit adolescents with OW/OB and enhance treatment outcomes by providing strategies to manage stress. The goal of this study was to integrate mindfulness and behavioral weight control for adolescents with OW/OB by obtaining feedback from a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and conducting an open trial of a novel Mindfulness-Based Weight Control (MBWC) intervention. A secondary goal was to describe intervention adaptation intervention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Feedback on the intervention was obtained during 6 group meetings of the YAB (N = 9;M = 15.22 yrs, SD = 1.20;66.6% male;zBMI M = 1.97, SD = .34). The open trial included 2 cohorts (N = 14;M = 15.14 yrs, SD = 1.56;71.4% female;zBMI M = 2.08, SD = .26) both of which received 8 sessions of the group MBWC intervention. Cohort 1 was conducted in-person. Due to COVID-19, cohort 2 was adapted for virtual, synchronous delivery. Results: The YAB provided feedback on developmental and cultural fit of MBWC for adolescents with OW/OB. For the open trial, a small effect (Hedge's g = .16) was found in zBMI decrease from pre-( M = 2.02, SD = .26) to post-( M = 1.97, SD = .30) treatment. However, the pre-post change in zBMI failed to reach significance, t = 1.68(10), p >.05. Post-treatment, participants in both groups rated on a 10-point scale (0 = strongly disagree to 10 = strongly agree) that they were 'satisfied with the HEARTS program' (M = 7.92, SD = 1.38) and would 'recommend the HEARTS program to a friend' (M = 8.50;SD = 1.78). Conclusions: Open trial findings provide preliminary support for this novel adolescent mindfulness-enhanced group behavioral weight control intervention, with adaptation for real-time online delivery. Specifically, results support the acceptability of this MBWC intervention, run both in-person and virtually with adaptation due to COVID-19. Further evaluation of the full 16-week MBWC intervention with a larger sample is needed to examine the impact on adolescent zBMI change.