Development and Preliminary Validation of the Adherence to Weight Control Questionnaire

Cross-sectional study showed psychosocial variables, gender and family involvement played an important role in an adolescent weight management programme

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial gains perceived by overweight adolescents attending a 12-week weight management programme and to analyse gender-specific differences.

METHODS

A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 70 overweight adolescents aged between 12 and 18 (52.9% girls), evaluated at baseline and at week 12 using anthropometric measurements and self-reported questionnaires. We analysed gender-specific differences related to body self-esteem, social life, relationships with their family, physical comfort, health responsibility, perceived benefits of the intervention, self-efficacy and adherence. We further investigated whether the variables at week 12 would predict changes in their body mass index.

RESULTS

While weight had a greater impact on the body self-esteem of girls, both at baseline and week 12, boys reported higher self-efficacy and adherence as well as a greater perception of the benefits of the intervention at week 12. The body mass index change was positively associated with body self-esteem, relationships within the family and self-efficacy and adherence.

CONCLUSION

Gender specifics and the role of psychosocial variables must be taken into account during weight management programmes for adolescents, and it is important to include the family throughout the entire process.

Pathways between BMI and adherence to weight management in adolescence

BACKGROUND

In order to understand the mechanisms involved in how overweight adolescents adhere to weight management and perceive its benefits, a few variables have been identified, namely, body mass index (BMI), body self-esteem (BSE) and positive perspective of life (PPL).

METHODS

In a sample of 112 adolescents, we investigated whether BMI would predict adolescents' self-efficacy/adherence (SEA) to weight management and perception of its benefits. A structural equation modeling approach was chosen. We hypothesized that perceived quality of life (PQL) would mediate the relationships between BMI and SEA and between BMI and perception of benefits (PB).

RESULTS

The results suggested that BMI is not directly associated with SEA and PB. However, PQL was identified as a mediator between BMI and SEA and PB.

CONCLUSION

These findings bring important implications for understanding overweight adolescents' adherence to weight management. There is evidence that adolescents' adherence to weight management and PB are not predicted by their BMI. However, it has been shown that PQL mediates this process. For a long time, health professionals have been too focused on BMI. Time has come to be more focused on quality of life and how to improve it.

Effectiveness analysis of an internet-based intervention for overweight adolescents: next steps for researchers and clinicians

BACKGROUNDS

The development of effective strategies for the management of overweight in adolescence is a well recognized need. The current study investigates the effectiveness of an e-therapeutic platform (Next.Step) which aims to promote weight management skills and the adoption of health-promoting behaviours among overweight adolescents.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized clinical trial with a sample of 80 adolescents. The control group followed the standard intervention. The experimental group was invited to access the platform during 12 weeks in addition to the standard intervention.

RESULTS

Although there was no change in the primary outcomes (body mass index and percentage of fat mass), the results suggest that the program is associated with an improvement in the 'positive perspective of life' and 'benefits perceived from the intervention', which have been identified as relevant factors for an effective weight management.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide little support for the effectiveness of internet-based weight management programs as an add-on to the standard intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01904474.