Telephone Counseling and Numberless Scales to Overcome Barriers to Adolescent Weight Loss

The proposed pilot project seeks to enhance motivation for lifestyle change in adolescents who are obese. It will test a novel intervention that combines modified MI-based counseling and BDS. We will test the feasibility of the intervention over a 12-week period, with 24-week follow-up compared to use of standard digital scale. All participants will undergo the standard adolescent weight loss program, which includes monthly clinic visits with dietary and physical activity counseling. The MI intervention will include modified MI, brief weekly telephone reinforcement, and use of a BDS. The BDS with its mobile app offers daily feedback through colors, daily missions to promote healthy habits, and weekly healthy tips from nutritionists. In addition to the primary outcome of feasibility (daily weighing) investigators will also explore the intervention's effect on motivation, psychological outcomes and various aspects of feasibility and acceptability.