A Single Group Pre-posttest Examination of a Health and Wellness Intervention on Body Mass Index for Adolescent Females with Severe Emotional Disorders and Histories of Trauma

Abstract

Youth living in residential treatment settings have an increased risk for developing health problems including overweight and obesity. Serious emotional disturbances (SEDs) coupled with psychiatric medications that can induce weight gain, a history of trauma, poor lifestyle behaviors, and high risk factors can contribute to overweight and obesity. Interventions designed to address the health and wellness of adolescents in residential care are critical to improving the outcomes for youth with a variety of comorbid physical and mental health disorders. The purpose of the current single group pre-posttest study was to examine the impact of a health and wellness group intervention on body mass index (BMI) and weight with adolescent females living in a residential treatment center (RTC). It was hypothesized that the wellness group intervention would improve BMI ranges and decrease weight. Convenience sampling methods were utilized and the total sample consisted of seven females who were receiving services within the RTC. Participants of the intervention were diagnosed with a SED, had a significant history of trauma, and had high rates of overweight and obesity. BMI and weight was measured by the RTC staff and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics including cross-tabulations. At pretesting, 85.7 % of the participants were obese. Conversely, at posttesting, only 42.8 % of the participants were in the obese BMI range. More specifically, one individual had moved into the healthy BMI range and two participants moved into the overweight BMI range. The average weight loss was 7.83 pounds per person ranging from 2 to 19 pounds. One participant was in the underweight BMI range at pretesting and had moved into the healthy weight range at posttesting. This pilot study has implications for both practice and research in all areas of child and adolescent wellness, including social work, psychology, health and medical, and educational disciplines. Health and wellness interventions can improve health and decrease weight and BMI for youth who are overweight or obese in residential settings. Limitations include a small sample size, the use of a single group pre-posttest design with no control group, and the use of convenience sampling.