Initial Eligibility

Thank you for your interest in our research study! This is the first step in determining your eligibility.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of InstaThought: The Better Together Study is to determine how different types of positive thinking influence decision-making and promote weight loss in parents and children. The study is looking for one overweight parent and one overweight child to participate for up to 12 weeks at the University at Buffalo Behavioral Medicine Lab.

ELIGIBILITY

Children must be between 8 and 12 years of age. The child must be at or above the 85% Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile for height and weight. There must not be any current psychiatric problems that would interfere with treatment for the child. There should be no history of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, in the parents, child, or first degree relatives. The child must be able to read the English language and read at a 3rd grade level. 

The participating parent must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 25. There must not be any current psychiatric problems that would interfere with treatment for the participant. There should be no history of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, in the parents, child or first degree relatives. The participating parent must be able to read the English language and have their own smart phone or Wi-Fi device (a device that can access the Internet).

PROCEDURES 

In order to determine if you and your child are eligible to participate in the study, you will be asked to attend an Orientation/Screening appointment (1 ½ -2 ½ hours) at the Behavioral Medicine Lab.

Accepted families will then participate in up to 14 sessions over a maximum of 14 weeks. 
  • Traffic Light Eating Plan Training will be 2 sessions (45 minutes – 1 hour).
  • Positive Thinking Training will be 10 sessions (45 minutes – 1 hour).  
  • Measurement Session #1 will be 1 session (1 – 1 ½ hours).
  • Measurement Session #2 will be 1 session (1 – 1 ½ hours). After this session, your participation in the study is complete.
Orientation/Screening:

If you and your child are initially eligible and interested you will be scheduled for an orientation appointment at the Behavioral Medicine Lab at the University at Buffalo South Campus. At this appointment you will sign consent forms, complete questionnaires, do tasks about making choices, get your height and weight measured, and complete a one-on-one interview. The appointment will take about 1 ½- 2 ½ hours to complete.

Traffic Light Eating Plan Training:

If you and your child are eligible after this appointment, you will attend several more appointments over the course of up to 14 weeks. For the first several sessions, you will be instructed on our eating plan and will be asked to record your eating behaviors. After 2 sessions, you will be quizzed to assess your understanding of the eating plan. If you do not reach a pre-determined mastery criteria on the quiz, you will complete up to 2 more mastery quizzes of the eating plan until you reach the criteria. If after these 4 quizzes you do not meet the requirements, your participation in the study will be over and you will be compensated $20.00 per family. 

Positive Thinking Training:

If you and your child meet criteria on the eating plan, you will continue with the study. You and your child will attend 10 sessions at the Behavioral Medicine Lab. These sessions will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. During these sessions you will learn more about our eating plan and how to make healthy choices using positive thinking. You as the parent will use positive thinking cues over the next 11 weeks in order to make healthy choices.

Measurement Session #1:

After the first 5 positive thinking training sessions, you and your child will attend Measurement Session #1 at the Behavioral Medicine Lab. This session will take about 1-1 ½ hours to complete. During this appointment, you will get your height and weight measured, create cues (parent), complete several questionnaires, and do tasks about making choices. You will then attend the final 5 Positive Thinking Training sessions.


Measurement Session #2:

After the final Positive Thinking Training sessions, you and your child will attend Measurement Session #2 at the Behavioral Medicine Lab. This session will take about 1-1 ½ hours to complete. During this appointment, you will get your height and weight measured, create cues (parent), complete several questionnaires, and do tasks about making choices.
COMPENSATION

Your family (you and your child together) can earn up to $100 for your participation in this study.
Summary of Study Details:


  • One overweight parent and one overweight child interested in weight loss
    • Willing to follow the Traffic Light Eating Plan

  • Orientation/Screening Appointment: 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours

  • Up to 14 sessions over a maximum of 14 weeks
    • 12 Sessions: 45 minutes - 1 hour
    • 2 Measurement Sessions: 1 - 1 1/2 hours

  • Compensation
    • Up to $100 (per family)

In order to determine your eligibility for this study, specific personal questions will be asked and recorded into a private database maintained by the Division of Behavioral Medicine. This database will include contact information, interest/willingness to participate in future studies, and your answers to any specific eligibility criteria discussed during this screen. This information will be kept in the database, with your consent, to help recruitment for future studies.

Your participation in this study is voluntary and you may stop participation at any time. Any information related to you will be treated in strict confidence to the extent provided by law.

 

T