Youth with obesity are more likely to be bullied than healthy-weight peers and weight-related bullying is the most common form of bullying. Treating bullying during childhood could reduce immediate and long-term health consequences, but there are no established individual-level treatments for weight-related bullying despite recommendations that they could improve children's health. This study will develop and test a new treatment for adolescent girls (11-17 years old) who have experienced bullying due to weight. The treatment will address traumatic stress and potentially co-occurring or developing problems with unhealthy weight-control behaviors, disordered eating, and weight. The treatment will be conducted via audio/video telehealth to increase accessibility and is therefore available to anyone in the United States who meets eligibility criteria.
This study will perform a clinical trial with adolescent girls to pilot a new cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for weight-related bullying testing (1) feasibility, (2) acceptability, and (3) initial efficacy. The treatment will be conducted via audio/video telehealth.