Body Appreciation and Weight Control Behaviors in Overweight Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study Informing a...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Adolescent overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns.
• Traditional interventions for adolescent obesity have shown limited success.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) presents a novel strategy for adolescent health promotion by modifying cognitive and behavioral patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a health behavior promotion model for overweight adolescents.
• The model integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles.
• Empirical validation uses multidimensional behavioral scoring.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involved 294 adolescents (aged 13-16).
• Participants were categorized into overweight/obese (n=86) and normal weight (n=208) groups.
• Data collected via Body Appreciation Scale-2, Weight Control Practices Questionnaire, and Comprehensive Lifestyle Assessment Scale; analyzed using SEM and regression.

Main Results:

• Overweight adolescents exhibited lower body appreciation cognition and healthy weight control behaviors, alongside higher unhealthy weight control behaviors.
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated body appreciation cognition directly and indirectly influenced BMI through healthy weight control behaviors.
• The proposed CBT-based model demonstrated a good fit, supporting its validity.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the use of a CBT-based health behavior promotion model for overweight adolescents.
• The model includes cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, self-monitoring, and relapse prevention.
• This provides a theoretical framework for school and community-based interventions targeting adolescent obesity.