# Acceptance-Based Therapy Weight Loss Intervention for Adolescents: A Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2020 · $154,159

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Training: My research on obesity has focused primarily on the etiology of pediatric obesity, and the natural
next step in my academic career is to design, develop, and implement an evidence-based weight loss
intervention for adolescents with overweight/obesity (OW/OB). The proposed K01 career development training
plan builds upon my prior experience to focus on three areas that require additional training: (1) build skills in
designing and implementing obesity weight loss trials in adolescents, (2) develop expertise in behavioral
change theories, including acceptance based-therapy (ABT), and (3) enhance skills in implementation science.
Accordingly, we propose intensive topical mentorship, focused coursework, practicums, seminars, and
contextual learning through the proposed research. This K01 will provide protected time to receive the
necessary training to enhance my expertise in these three areas and will propel me to becoming an
independent research scientist focused on the development of effective obesity interventions in youth.
Research: The prevalence of OW/OB in U.S. adolescents is 34.5%. The effectiveness of currently available
adolescent weight loss interventions is limited because the amount of weight lost is modest and weight regain
is common. Thus, there is a critical need to develop effective interventions in adolescents with OW/OB. The
proposed K01 attempts to address this need and the objective of this K01 proposal is to develop and test the
feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an ABT weight loss intervention tailored for adolescents with OW/OB.
ABT focuses on self-regulation skills and increasing tolerance of negative or uncomfortable emotions, and
research demonstrates that it is a highly effective weight loss strategy in adults. Further, ABT has been
successful in treating adolescents with chronic pain, high-risk sexual behavior, anorexia, and depression.
Given the success of ABT for treating other medical and behavioral issues in adolescents and the high percent
of weight loss observed in adults, ABT could represent an effective weight loss intervention for adolescents.
However, to date, no one has studied ABT as an adolescent weight loss tool. Thus, the proposed K01 will
develop an ABT intervention tailored for adolescents with OW/OB. The overarching hypothesis of this proposal
is that an adolescent ABT intervention will be feasible, acceptable, and will result in lower BMI z-scores and
body fat percentage, healthier dietary intakes, increased physical activity, and improved blood pressure and
cholesterol relative to an enhanced standard care condition. Summary: Findings from this study will inform an
R01 grant application to test the effectiveness of an adolescent ABT weight loss intervention in a fully-powered
sample. This K01 will develop my new expertise in conducting adolescent obesity trials, applying behavioral
change theories to intervention development, and implementation science. At th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980997
- **Project number:** 5K01HL141535-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michelle Cardel
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $154,159
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2021-05-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980997

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980997, Acceptance-Based Therapy Weight Loss Intervention for Adolescents: A Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial (5K01HL141535-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980997. Licensed CC0.

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