Brief report: A randomized controlled trial examining peer support and behavioral weight loss treatment

Noel Kulik; Susan T Ennett; Dianne S Ward; J Michael Bowling; Edwin B Fisher; Deborah F Tate

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.07.010

Brief report: A randomized controlled trial examining peer support and behavioral weight loss treatment

J Adolesc. 2015 Oct:44:117-23. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.07.010. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

Authors

Noel Kulik¹, Susan T Ennett², Dianne S Ward³, J Michael Bowling⁴, Edwin B Fisher⁵, Deborah F Tate⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, 358A Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: ab7564@wayne.edu.
² University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, 358A Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: sennett@email.unc.edu.
³ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Nutrition, 2202 McGavran-Greenberg Hl, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7461, Chapel Hill 27599-7461, USA. Electronic address: dsward@email.unc.edu.
⁴ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, 309 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7440, 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: jbowling@email.unc.edu.
⁵ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, 336A Rosenau Hall, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: fishere@email.unc.edu.
⁶ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior & Department of Nutrition, Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, USA. Electronic address: dtate@unc.edu.

PMID: 26265590
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.07.010

Abstract

Peer support among adolescents has been positively associated with heath behaviors; however, enhancing peer support for weight loss has rarely been studied among adolescents. This study examined whether a peer support training component delivered to enhance a standard weight loss program led to improved outcomes. Forty-one overweight adolescent females were randomly assigned to a Standard or Enhanced Peer Support intervention. The Enhanced group received in person peer support skills training and practiced skills using social networking. At 16 weeks, participants in the Enhanced condition reported significantly increased perceptions of friend support. Both groups demonstrated significant weight loss (6.4 lbs, ± 8.3). Attendance and self-monitoring were associated with weight loss. Perceptions of peer support can be increased with a peer training component, but did not increase weight loss during the short term.

Keywords: Adolescent; Intervention; Obesity; Peer support; Social support; Weight loss.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Female
Humans
Patient Compliance / psychology
Pediatric Obesity / psychology
Pediatric Obesity / therapy
Peer Group*
Social Networking
Social Support*
Weight Loss
Weight Reduction Programs / methods*

Grants and funding

1T32HD057824-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States