Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for Obesity in African American Youth

NCT00604981 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 7-05-HFC-24
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 49
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Despite the dramatic increase in obesity and Type II Diabetes in adolescents, documented effective treatments for obesity and the consequential prevention of Type II Diabetes are scarce. Modification of food and activity choices is the foundation of obesity treatment; however, adolescents may find it difficult to follow recommended diet and exercise programs. This study uses a home-based treatment, Multisystemic Therapy (MST), to target change within the individual, family and environmental contexts. Participants are 49 obese (BMI\>95th percentile) African American adolescents (ages 12-17). 24 were randomized to receive the MST intervention and 25 were placed in Shapedown, a family group program. Families were recruited from the only university-affiliated medical center in Detroit, Michigan. Michigan's youth have higher rates of obesity, overweight, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol compared to the national average, and Detroit has the highest percentage of African Americans of any major city in the US. Families complete measurements at the start of the treatment, at the end of the treatment and one year after enrollment. We expect to find that youth in the MST group will show more weight loss and greater improvements in diet (e.g., caloric intake and exercise behaviors than will youth in Shapedown. These changes in food choices, activity levels, and weight are expected to remain after the end of treatment. This intervention is intended to provide immediate assistance to a vulnerable population disproportionately affected by obesity and its long-term health complications.

Conditions

Obesity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• weight (lbs, BMI)

  baseline, 7 months post treatment, 12 months post treatment

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• food choices

  baseline, 7 months (post treatment), 12 months post treatment

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

Behavioral: Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Shapedown

Behavioral: Shapedown

Interventions

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) BEHAVIORAL

MST is an intensive, family centered, community based treatment originally designed for use with adolescents presenting with serious mental health problems. In this study, MST interventions are aimed at increasing adolescent and family adherence to dietary and exercise recommendations and targeting barriers within the family system, and the broader community systems within which the family is embedded (peers, schools, health care). Decreasing caloric consumption consistent with recommended intake targets, increasing daily exercise and decreasing sedentary activity, are treatment focuses depending on whether the adolescent has difficulty with this aspect of weight management or not.

1

Shapedown BEHAVIORAL

Shapedown, is a clinic-based, adolescent weight loss intervention. Shapedown utilizes psycho educational, behavior, and family therapy techniques in a 10-week group intervention. In order to match MST's length of intervention (6 months), three follow-up sessions are added at monthly intervals.

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Primary obesity as indicated by a BMI percentile \>=95th based on current height and weight using age and gender norms from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Self-identified as African American
• Between the ages of 12 years, 0 months and 17 years, 11 months and
• Residing in a home environment with a caregiver who was willing to participate in treatment.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy
• Moderate or severe mental retardation or psychosis; AND
• Medical co morbidities that required treatment, including diabetes and hypertension.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wayne State University: lead
• American Diabetes Association: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Wayne State University, Pediatric Prevention Research Center

Detroit, Michigan, 48335, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Overweight; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Sylvie Naar-King, Ph.D.

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 17, 2008
• First Posted: January 30, 2008
• Study Start: May 1, 2005
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2007
• Study Completion: November 1, 2007
• Last Updated: January 30, 2008

Record last verified: 2008-01

Locations

US (1)