Mindfulness in Adolescents With Obesity

Examining the Feasibility of a Brief Adjunctive Mindfulness Intervention for Adolescents With Obesity

The goal of this study is to conduct a single arm open trial to examine the feasibility of a brief, adjunctive mindfulness intervention tailored to the needs of adolescents with severe obesity.

The purpose of this study is to examine whether it is feasible to integrate a brief, adjunctive mindfulness intervention with the standard medical management of obesity in adolescents with severe obesity. Mindfulness refers to the experience of paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgmental manner. Mindfulness training enhances one's ability to cope with negative emotions and one's awareness of decision-making processes and internal experiences.

The proposed study has two specific aims: 1) to conduct a single arm open trial to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the mindfulness intervention in a sample of 15 adolescents with severe obesity; and 2) to examine the preliminary efficacy of the mindfulness intervention on BMI, emotion regulation, eating and weight-related behaviors, impulsivity, waist circumference, and blood pressure in comparison to the standard of care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• between the ages of 12 - 17 years
• a current patient of our affiliated obesity clinic
• have a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 45 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• have a known genetic cause of obesity
• have been diagnosed with a severe intellectual or learning disability
• have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or current psychosis
• are taking a medication intended to reduce body weight