Helping diverse adolescents achieve wellness through changing habits
Wellness Achieved Through Changing Habits (WATCH): An Acceptance-Based Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for Diverse Adolescents
This study is all about helping teens who are overweight or obese learn healthier habits through fun group sessions that teach them how to manage their feelings and make better choices about eating and exercise.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10925431 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping adolescents, particularly those who are overweight or obese, develop healthier lifestyle habits through an innovative approach called acceptance-based therapy (ABT). The program includes 15 group sessions over six months, where participants learn self-regulation skills and mindfulness techniques to better manage their emotions and behaviors related to diet and physical activity. By engaging adolescents in the process, the intervention aims to improve their adherence to healthy habits and reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by diverse populations, particularly girls and racial/ethnic minorities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 19 who are overweight or obese, particularly those from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Not a fit: Patients who are not overweight or obese, or those outside the age range of 12 to 19, may not receive benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective weight loss strategies for adolescents, reducing their risk of serious health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that acceptance-based therapy can be effective for weight loss in adults, suggesting potential for success in adolescents as well.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Drexel University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manasse, Stephanie — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Manasse, Stephanie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.