Abstract
Behavioural Training empowers young people to adopt lifestyle changes which counteract obesity
Margarita Tsiros
PhD candidate, Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, (or CBT) is aimed at teaching overweight and obese children/adolescents, (supported by their parents), the skills they need not only to lose weight in the short-term, but to keep it off in the long-term. We tested a 10-week CBT program, which was followed up by 5 fortnightly phone call sessions with 47 overweight and obese adolescents to see if it would bring about improvements in weight, body fat, diet and physical activity habits. The results were promising showing that those adolescents who took part in the program lost body fat and weight (around 2kg), whilst those adolescents who continued with their normal habits put on body fat and weight (nearly 4kg).
It appeared that the CBT program helped teens to cut down their intake of sugary soft drinks, and this was strongly linked to improvements in weight and waist girth. Despite this, the CBT program did not get adolescents to be more physically active. This may be related to early research suggesting that obese individuals have a harder time moving around in general. We are currently conducting research to find out more about this, and whether there are specific factors that contribute to impaired physical functioning (e.g. body fat, strength and fitness). If factors impacting on physical function and activity can be identified, then we could target these in treatments to improve activity, function and wellness in obese children/adolescents which could assist obesity management in the long-term.
