Multicomponent behavioral treatment for obesity and overweight is often best provided by a team of healthcare professionals. A team may include a psychologist, physician, dietician, exercise specialist, nurse practitioner, or other professional. Which types of professionals should ideally be involved, and to what degree, depends on the needs and characteristics of the child or adolescent.
The following case examples focus on the role of psychologists (or other behavioral health providers), particularly at the early stages of treatment, rather than illustrating all aspects or stages of multicomponent behavioral treatment. These cases point to the need to consider such factors as the patient’s age, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and culture. Further, they demonstrate the relevance of psychosocial factors – such as the patient’s motivation, social support, family situation, and psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and executive function difficulties) – for understanding and addressing obesity and overweight.
These case examples were developed by Eleanor Mackey, PhD and Laura Kurzius, PhD of Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC. Each example describes an amalgamation of several patient presentations. None of these cases represents a specific patient.