Mothers Inspiring Healthy Actions (MIHA) program: A randomized control trial testing obesity treatment for mother-daughter dyads.

BACKGROUND

Obesity and diabetes are highly concordant in Mexican American families. From a family systems perspective, family-level approaches to obesity treatment can improve the adoption and maintenance of weight management behaviors. Hence, this study will conduct a randomized control trial testing the efficacy of an adapted behavioral weight management intervention with counseling on family functioning.

METHODS

Mexican American mothers and adult daughters will be randomly assigned to receive behavioral obesity treatment with (BTR) or without (BT) relationship skills training. Dyads participating in BTR and BT will attend 24 weekly sessions focused on nutrition and physical activity education along with cognitive and behavioral change strategies. Dyads participating in BTR will also receive experiential-based relationship skills training to address culturally influenced relational dynamics that may interfere with dyadic collaboration for lifestyle change. The 12-month trial will consist of an intervention phase (1-6 months) and a maintenance phase (7-12 months). The primary outcome is weight loss. Secondary outcomes include treatment adherence, cardiometabolic risk factors, health behaviors, psychosocial factors, and family functioning.

CONCLUSION

Dyads in the BTR group are expected to achieve greater improvements in primary and secondary outcomes than the BT group.