Acceptability of Weight Loss Treatments Among Overweight Adolescents and Their Caregivers

Abstract

This study examined the acceptability of adjustable gastric banding surgery relative to four other common weight loss treatments (i.e., dietary therapy, exercise program, family behavior therapy, weight loss pills). Participants consisted of 102 adolescents and 101 caregivers who were recruited from a hospital-based weight management clinic. A two-way mixed factor analysis of variance revealed that gastric banding surgery and weight loss pills were viewed as less acceptable than the other three treatments. These results held true across informants (i.e., parents and adolescents; boys and girls) and correlational analyses revealed no significant associations between treatment acceptability and body mass index (BMI), health-related quality of life, or number of previously attempted weight loss strategies. Further exploration of the factors that influence negative perceptions of gastric banding is warranted because health professionals may have a difficult time encouraging appropriate candidates to consider the surgery if acceptability for the procedure is low.