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Teen Weight Loss: Emotion Smarts Key to Lasting Results
27 Oct
Summary
- Emotional regulation training aided teens in maintaining weight loss long-term.
- Teens with mood management skills snacked less when stressed.
- Enhanced programs showed slightly better weight loss and significantly better maintenance.
Weight management programs for adolescents can achieve more sustainable results by incorporating emotional regulation training, a recent study suggests. Research published on October 22, 2026, in JAMA Network Open highlights that teaching teens to understand and manage their moods helps prevent weight regain.
During a six-month program, teens receiving standard weight management advice alongside emotional counseling showed similar initial weight loss to a control group. However, one year post-program, approximately 22% of those with emotional management training maintained their weight loss, compared to only 4% in the standard group.
Lead researcher Kerri Boutelle noted that while overall emotion management skills didn't measurably improve, the connection between difficult emotions and eating appeared to weaken. This suggests that helping adolescents respond differently to challenging feelings may be crucial for long-term success, especially given that 43% of U.S. adolescents are overweight or obese.
