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JOIN for ME: Testing a Scalable Weight Control Intervention for Adolescents
Elissa Jelalian1, E Whitney Evans1, Diana Rancourt2
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Childhood Obesity (Print)
|December 20, 2019
Summary
This study compared two YMCA lifestyle programs for adolescents with overweight. Both programs effectively reduced adolescent weight status, with no significant difference between the standard and enhanced versions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric obesity interventions
- Lifestyle modification programs
- Public health initiatives
Background:
- Adolescent obesity is a significant public health concern requiring effective interventions.
- The YMCA's "JOIN for ME" program offers a comprehensive lifestyle intervention.
- Enhancements to lifestyle programs, such as supervised physical activity and peer support, may improve outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of the "JOIN for ME" program with an enhanced version including supervised physical activity and peer support.
- To evaluate the impact of these interventions on adolescent weight status.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 66 adolescents with BMI >85th percentile.
- Participants were assigned to either the standard "JOIN for ME" or the "JOIN for ME enhanced" program.
- Both programs included 16 weekly group sessions, followed by maintenance sessions; the enhanced program added weekly supervised group physical activity.
Main Results:
- High retention rates at 16 weeks (91%) and 10 months (82%).
- No significant differences in Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI z-scores (BMIz), or percent overweight between the two groups over time.
- Average reductions across all participants at four months: BMI by 1.4 kg/m², BMIz by 0.12, and percent overweight by 8.8%.
Conclusions:
- Neither the standard nor the enhanced "JOIN for ME" program demonstrated superior effectiveness in reducing adolescent weight status.
- While lacking a control group, both intervention groups showed greater weight status decreases than observed in a previous open trial.
- Further research is needed to determine the long-term impact and optimal components of adolescent weight management programs.
