Whole Foods for Teens: A Pilot Dietary Intervention to Reduce Body Adiposity in Adolescents With Obesity
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
This study will address the following aims: Aim 1: Conduct an 8-week pilot RCT to examine the effects of a whole foods diet intervention on body adiposity in adolescents with obesity. Aim 1a (Primary): Evaluate intervention effectiveness on total fat mass following the 8-week intervention. Hypothesis 1a: Adolescents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have lower total fat mass (kg) at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Aim 1b: Evaluate intervention effectiveness on anthropometric changes following the 8-week intervention. Hypothesis 1b: Adolescents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have lower weight, BMI-z scores and/or waist circumference at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Secondary Aims: Aim 2: Conduct an 8-week pilot RCT to examine the effects of a whole foods diet intervention on diet quality in adolescent and parent pairs during the study period. Hypothesis 2: Adolescents and parents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have higher diet quality scores at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Aim 3: Conduct post-intervention family focus groups to identify how individual/family needs and preferences and social determinants of health (SDOH) may be perceived barriers and/or facilitators of diet adherence to a whole foods diet pattern.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: For this study, eligible adolescents will be those that: 1. 10-18 years of age at time of initial screening; 2. living at home full-time with the enrolled parent or caregiver (≥80% in primary residence); 3. obesity defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 95th percentile for age and gender based on standardized CDC growth curves; 4. reside within greater Middle Tennessee area and has enrolled parent/caregiver willing to drive to Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for study visits; 5. are without medical conditions that would limit participation in a diet-related study (e.g., tube feeding, dysphagia, severe food allergy to 3 or more food groups causing anaphylaxis); 6. are willing and able to participate in an 8-week diet study that encourages preparing and eating healthy foods and snacks for 8 weeks with parental or caregiver support; 7. have parental or caregiver commitment to participate in the research study; For thi