New teen weight registry to recognize successful weight loss

July 7, 8:11 PMLA Parenting Teens ExaminerEvelyn Block

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the LA Parenting Teens Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Approximately 16-30% of teens are overweight

If your teen is between the ages of 14 and 20 and has successfully lost more than ten pounds and kept the weight off for at least a year, researchers are interested in learning how they did it.

Since there’s been very little research on effective weight control strategies for teens, this new study is designed to identify and study characteristics of adolescents who have succeeded at long-term weight loss.

According to Elissa Jelalian, PhD who will be conducting the study with Rena Wing PhD, "We're hoping the Adolescent Weight Control Registry will shed some light on what weight management tools and strategies work for this specific population, who are often dealing with additional stressors such as peer pressure, teasing and low self-esteem. This information could ultimately lead to improved and more effective obesity treatment programs for adolescents." The study is the pediatric partner to the National Weight Control Registry, which is currently tracking 5,000 adults who have lost weight and maintained the loss over time.