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Project

Welcome Trail: improving weight control and CO-morbidities in children with obesity via executive function training.

Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are prevalent, have several long lasting medical and psychosocialcomorbidities and post a serious burden on society. Tackling weight problems at an early age in a sustainable way istherefore of utmost importance. Earlier studies of the UGhent and the UZA research groups, showed that in the short terma multidisciplinary obesity treatment (MOT) focusing on behavioral lifestyle approach, has a positive impact on weight andcomorbidities. However, existing therapies have only limited success, specifically at long-term. One explanation for thesemodest results relates to poor executive functions (EFs, e.g., attention, inhibition) in overweight and obesity. EFs areneeded for self-control and resisting temptation.The UGhent group investigates since 2011, as the first group worldwide, the potential of EF-training strengthening selfcontrolcapacities in obese youth and proved that a computerized EF-training on top of an evidence-based MOT enhancesEFs of obese youth, and increases their capability to maintain weight loss until 8 weeks after treatment. This proof-ofconceptfor the present project is strengthened by recent international studies showing that training individuals to controlresponses to high-calorie foods via computerized tasks results in weight loss.We aim to show now that adding computerized EF-training to evidence-based MOT further improves weight maintenanceuntil 6-month after MOT and ameliorates medical and psychosocial comorbidities. We will test this in a multicenterlongitudinal, prospective randomized RCT. During the regular MOT, 200 obese youngsters (8-18 years) will berandomized on a 1/1 base to either a 6 week EF-training or an active control condition, followed by 8 weekly (training orcontrol) booster sessions. The effects of the EF-training will be measured immediately after the MOT, at 2 month and 6month. We expect significant effect of EF-training on 1) weight loss maintenance up to 6-months after MOT, 2) EF and 3)comorbidities and related to health benefits.The project partner's extensive professional network and close collaboration with the different partners from the advisoryboard (BASO, VVK and Eetexpert.be vzw) allows for the broad dissemination of the project results to different targetgroups. The EF-training (and manual) will be presented to different MOT centers. A train-the-trainer program will bedeveloped. Press releases, communications to the general public and appropriate stakeholders (e.g., health authorities,medical societies and youth health organizations) and scientific presentations and publications will report on the project'sactivities and results.
Date:1 Feb 2020 →  31 Jul 2020
Keywords:OBESITY
Disciplines:Paediatrics