'Adventure therapy' combined with cognitive-behavioral treatment for overweight adolescents

Objective: Since peers have such an important influence on adolescents, we evaluated the efficacy of adding peer-based ‘adventure therapy’ to a standard cognitive-behavioral weight control program for overweight adolescents. Methods: Adolescents ( N =76) aged 13–16 years and 20 to 80% overweight ( M =60.56%, s.d.=15.17%), were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: cognitive-behavioral group treatment with ‘adventure therapy’ similar to Outward Bound ® (cognitive-behavioral treatment with peer-enhanced adventure therapy (CBT+PEAT)) or cognitive-behavioral group treatment with aerobic exercise (CBT+EXER). Anthropometric and psychosocial measures were obtained at baseline, at the end of the 16-week intervention, and at 10 months following randomization. Results: Adolescents assigned to both treatment conditions demonstrated significant weight loss over time, F=29.06, df=2, 53, P