The childhood obesity epidemic represents a major health threat to the current generation of youth, and falls disproportionately on urban, Latino adolescents. Data suggests modern inner-city minority youth suffer from high levels of psychosocial stress, and that such chronic stress contributes to obesity and insulin resistance, increasing risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and other obesity-related disorders. Guided imagery is a mind-body complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) modality that offers promise as a therapeutic intervention to reduce psychosocial stress, and also to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. In a pilot 12-week lifestyle intervention, Interactive Guided Imagery significantly reduced salivary Cortisol, reduced sedentary behavior, and increased moderate physical activity in overweight Latino adolescents. The overall aim of this proposal is to determine the separate contributions of stress reduction guided imagery and health behavior guided imagery, when delivered in the context of a health-promoting, lifestyle intervention, on short-term and long-term stress-reduction and behavioral outcomes in predominantly Latino high school students. The study consists of a high school-based, 12- week lifestyle intervention in urban, predominantly Latino adolescents. The intervention features a health-promoting, lifestyle education class, combined with a group guided imagery intervention that is theoretically grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT). High school students are randomized to one of 4 intervention arms 1) Non-intervention control; 2) lifestyle education alone (LS); 3) LS + Stress Reduction guided imagery alone; 4) LS + Physical Activity/Healthy Eating guided imagery. Outcomes will be measured upon completion of the 12-wk intervention, and after an additional 6-month maintenance program. Primary outcomes will be change in salivary Cortisol patterns and changes in physical activity and dietary intake. Secondary outcomes are insulin resistance, body fat, carotid intima media thickness, metabolic syndrome, perceived stress, well-being (self-esteem, health related quality of life), and measures of mediation by SDT constructs. Results will demonstrate the isolated effects of the lifestyle education and the two different forms of guided imagery, and could shift the paradigm of obesity prevention and treatment in urban minority youth to include attention to social stress and promotion of well-being.

Public Health Relevance

The childhood obesity epidemic, which falls disproportionately on Latino adolescents, represents a major public health threat to the current generation of youth, and therefore to the health of the nation overall. This project directly addresses the role of psychosocial stress in promoting obesity and metabolic disease risk, and investigates the role of the mind-body CAM intervention of guided imagery in both reducing stress and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors that could dramatically improve the metabolic health of today's youth.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AT008330-05
Application #
9312779
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAT1)
Program Officer
Clark, David
Project Start
2013-09-30
Project End
2019-07-31
Budget Start
2017-08-01
Budget End
2019-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90033
Spruijt-Metz, Donna; Wen, Cheng K Fred; Bell, Brooke M et al. (2018) Advances and Controversies in Diet and Physical Activity Measurement in Youth. Am J Prev Med 55:e81-e91
Wen, Cheng K Fred; Schneider, Stefan; Stone, Arthur A et al. (2017) Compliance With Mobile Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocols in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res 19:e132
Fred Wen, Cheng K; Hsieh, Stephanie; Huh, Jimi et al. (2016) The Role of Assimilating to the US Culture and the Relationship Between Neighborhood Ethnic Composition and Dietary Intake Among Hispanic Youth. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities :
Turner, T; Spruijt-Metz, D; Wen, C K F et al. (2015) Prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity using mobile and wireless technologies: a systematic review. Pediatr Obes 10:403-9
Cook, Lauren T; O'Reilly, Gillian A; Goran, Michael I et al. (2014) Vegetable consumption is linked to decreased visceral and liver fat and improved insulin resistance in overweight Latino youth. J Acad Nutr Diet 114:1776-83