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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Adolescent weight control: an intervention targeting parent communication and modeling compared with minimal parental
Elissa Jelalian1, Wendy Hadley2, Amy Sato2
1Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University Elissa_Jelalian@brown.edu.
Enhanced parenting strategies did not improve adolescent weight control outcomes compared to standard behavioral treatment alone. This study found no significant benefits from targeting parent-child communication or parental role modeling.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Obesity Research
- Behavioral Health Interventions
- Family Studies
Background:
- Adolescent weight control interventions show inconsistent results.
- The role of parental involvement in adolescent weight management is not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare a standard behavioral weight control (BWC) intervention (SBT) with an enhanced version targeting parent-adolescent communication and parental modeling (SBT + EP).
- To evaluate the efficacy of enhanced parenting strategies in adolescent weight control.
Main Methods:
- 49 obese adolescents and a caregiver were randomized to either SBT or SBT + EP.
- Intervention lasted 16 weeks, with measurements of adolescent/caregiver weight, height, parental modeling, and communication.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant adolescent weight reduction and increased parental self-monitoring.
- A trend suggested greater weight reduction and less negative maternal commentary in the standard BWC (SBT) group.
Conclusions:
- Targeting parent-adolescent communication and parental modeling did not yield superior adolescent weight control outcomes.
- Findings suggest that enhanced parenting components may not be necessary for effective adolescent weight management.
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