African-American Adolescents’ Weight Loss Skills Utilization: Effects on Weight Change in a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial

Abstract

ObjectiveSuccessful weight loss interventions for African-Americans adolescents are lacking. Cognitive-behavioral interventions seek to develop weight loss skills (e.g., counting calories, goal setting, managing one's environment). Little is known about how well adolescents implement such skills in their daily lives. Study aims were to (1) examine weight loss skills utilization at midpoint and end of a 6-month cognitive-behavioral/motivational interviewing weight loss sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), and (2) determine if greater skill utilization predicted weight loss at treatment end and 3 months post-treatment. MethodOne hundred and eighty six African-Americans adolescents with obesity and their caregiver were first randomly assigned to complete 3 months of cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing family-based weight loss treatment in their home or in the research office (Phase 1). Nonresponders (i.e., those who lost < 3% of initial weight, n = 161) were rerandomized to 3 months of continued skills training (n = 83) or contingency management (n = 78) for Phase 2; responders were allocated to 3 months of relapse prevention (n = 20). Adolescents’ frequency of weight loss skills utilization was assessed via questionnaire at treatment midpoint and end. ResultsHigher treatment attendance was associated with better skill utilization. Higher skill utilization was associated with more weight loss at treatment end, whereas higher baseline confidence was associated with more weight loss at follow-up. ConclusionsThis study indicates the importance of attending weight loss intervention sessions to develop and strengthen weight loss skills in African-American adolescents with obesity, and strengthening confidence to use such skills for continued weight loss.