Regular Article

A pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for preventing excess weight gain in adolescent girls at-risk for obesity†

  1. Marian Tanofsky-Kraff PhD1,2,*,
  2. Denise E. Wilfley PhD3,
  3. Jami F. Young PhD4,
  4. Laura Mufson PhD5,
  5. Susan Z. Yanovski MD1,6,
  6. Deborah R. Glasofer PhD5,
  7. Christine G. Salaita MS1,
  8. Natasha A. Schvey BA1,2

Article first published online: 30 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20773

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 43, Issue 8, pages 701–706, December 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Wilfley, D. E., Young, J. F., Mufson, L., Yanovski, S. Z., Glasofer, D. R., Salaita, C. G. and Schvey, N. A. (2010), A pilot study of interpersonal psychotherapy for preventing excess weight gain in adolescent girls at-risk for obesity. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 43: 701–706. doi: 10.1002/eat.20773

Author Information

  1. 1

    Unit on Growth and Obesity, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Heath and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland

  2. 2

    Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

  3. 3

    Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

  4. 4

    Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey

  5. 5

    Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons/NY State Psychiatric Institute, NewYork, NewYork

  6. 6

    Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, NIDDK, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland

*Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4712

  1. †

    The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of USUHS or the U.S. Department of Defense.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 10 NOV 2010
  2. Article first published online: 30 OCT 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 23 SEP 2009

Funded by

  • Supported by Z01-HD-00641 from NIH (Intramural Research Program of NICHD); 1R01DK080906-01A1 from NIDDK; R072IC from USUHS; Supplemental funding from NCMHD

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (104K)

Keywords:

  • obesity prevention;
  • inter-personal psychotherapy;
  • adolescence;
  • loss of control eating

Abstract

Objective

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is effective at reducing binge episodes and inducing weight stabilization in obese adults with binge eating disorder.

Method

We piloted the administration of IPT to girls at-risk for excess weight gain (BMI 75th–97th percentile; IPT-WG) with and without loss of control (LOC) eating. Thirty-eight girls (12–17 years) were randomized to IPT-WG or a standard-of-care health education group.

Results

All 38 girls completed the programs and all follow-up visits through 6 months. Thirty-five of 38 returned for a complete assessment visit at 1 year. Among girls with baseline LOC (n = 20), those in IPT-WG experienced greater reductions in such episodes than girls in health education (p = .036). Regardless of LOC status, over 1 year girls in IPT-WG were less likely to increase their BMI as expected for their age and BMI percentile (p = .028).

Discussion

IPT-WG is feasible and acceptable to adolescent girls at-risk for adult obesity and may prevent excess weight gain over 1 year. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:701–706

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (104K)