Abstract
ABSTRACT When designing efficacy trials, researchers have a responsibility to “do no harm” and to “do good”. Given the psychological vulnerability of adolescent girls with overweight and obesity, it is important to consider the implications of participating in weight-related research studies. We investigated psychological outcomes from a 12-week laboratory-based randomised controlled trial aimed at improving body composition and bone health in adolescent girls with overweight and obesity. Sixty-three participants were randomised to three groups (Recommended dairy diet plus exercise (RDa, n = 24); Low dairy diet plus exercise (LDa, n = 25); no-intervention control (n = 14)). Self-Determination Theory-informed strategies were applied in both intervention groups to foster motivation and enhance psychological wellbeing. Motivation, perceived competence and self-perceptions were measured at 0 and 12 weeks. Fifty-four participants (24 RDa, 23 LDa, 7 Control) provided complete psychological data. There were no between group differences in 0- to 12-week change in motivation, perceived competence or global self-worth. Both intervention groups showed significant improvements in physical self-worth (p = 0.001), body satisfaction (p = 0.002) and perceived physical conditioning (p = 0.002), compared with the control group. A theory-informed, laboratory-based diet and exercise intervention produced favourable psychological outcomes for adolescent girls with overweight and obesity.
Highlights
With prevalence rates continuing to rise worldwide, child and adolescent obesity remains a major public health concern (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, 2020)
We report 12-week psychological outcomes from a laboratory-based randomised controlled trial designed to compare the effects of a recommended dairy diet plus exercise (RDa), a low-dairy diet plus exercise (LDa) and a nointervention control in adolescent girls with overweight and obesity (Calleja et al, 2020; Josse et al, 2020)
All participants randomised to an intervention condi tion provided complete psychological data at 0 and 12 weeks, with the exception of 2 participants in the LDa group who were randomised but did not start the intervention
Summary
With prevalence rates continuing to rise worldwide, child and adolescent obesity remains a major public health concern (NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, 2020). For interventions targeted at adolescents with obesity, considera tion of this psychological aspect is crucial Does this population suffer low self-esteem and impaired quality of life (Griffiths et al, 2010), but study participation may heighten focus on weight, which in turn has been shown to have nega tive implications for self-esteem (Jones et al, 2018). This poten tial to cause psychological harm must be considered when designing efficacy trials, even when the research question is not psychology-focused
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