Tests group therapy for weight and health habits in teens with obesity
Tests group emotion-focused therapy with lifestyle help in teens with obesity at risk for diabetes.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dialectal Behaviour Therapy to Enhance Health Behaviour Change for Adolescents Living With Obesity (DIRECTION Trial)
Key facts
- Where
- Calgary, Hamilton, and Winnipeg, CanadaSee the 3 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 14 and 17 years old?
Source: NCT05338944, who can take part
Where in Canada
- University Of CalgaryCalgary, CanadaTaking people
- McMaster UniversityHamilton, CanadaTaking people
- University of ManitobaWinnipeg, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Manitoba
- Trial code
- NCT05338944
- Record updated
- 7 October 2025
- Original description
This research is being conducted to evaluate emotion-focused therapy that incorporates elements of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and relationship support. The investigators want to learn if this therapy, called Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) will help improve quality of life and weight management in youth at risk for type 2 diabetes. Individuals will be randomly assigned to weekly group based session in one of 3 intervention arms; lifestyle + DBT, lifestyle alone, or a control arm.Read full original descriptionShow less
Dialectal Behaviour Therapy to Enhance Health Behaviour Change for Adolescents Living With Obesity (DIRECTION Trial)
This research is being conducted to evaluate emotion-focused therapy that incorporates elements of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and relationship support. The investigators want to learn if this therapy, called Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) will help improve quality of life and weight management in youth at risk for type 2 diabetes. Individuals will be randomly assigned to weekly group based session in one of 3 intervention arms; lifestyle + DBT, lifestyle alone, or a control arm.
Inclusion: 14-17 years old; BMI z-score >1.4; signs of mild-moderate depression (PHQ-9 score 5-19); willing and able to comply with study procedures.
Exclusion: being treated with medication for obesity; taking steroids; experienced weight loss or enrolled in weight loss program in the six months prior to the study; they are currently and/or in the past 12 months have been prescribed any weight loss medication(s) including Ozempic; have an orthopedic injury or chronic illness that would prevent them from performing the intervention; self reported history of alcoholism or drug abuse; history of self-harm or suicide attempts in the past 12 months; more than one health co-morbidity; currently being treated for atypical antipsychotics; currently enrolled in psychotherapy or DBT; parents do not approve of you participating; unable to read, speak and understand English as translation will not be provided; unable/unwilling to give assent/consent.