Multisystemic Therapy (MST) for Obesity in African American Youth

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00604981

Run by

Wayne State University

People needed

49

Starts

2005-05-01

Expected to finish

2007-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-01-30

Who can join

Age: 12 and older, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

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.

Where it is running

• Wayne State University, Pediatric Prevention Research Center — Detroit, Michigan, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.