Virtual Health Focused Acceptance-Based Program for Parents and Youth
Virtual Health Focused Acceptance-Based Program for Parents and Youth
The main purpose of vHAPPY is to pilot test a new type of virtual family-based healthy
 lifestyle program for children aged 8-14 with obesity and their caregivers. vHAPPY aims to
 (1) Transition a previously developed acceptance-based behavioral treatment to web-based
 platform, utilizing qualitative and quantitative program evaluation data from past
 participants. (2) Determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of the
 adapted web-based treatment. (3) Evaluate whether the adapted web-based treatment
 (self-guided treatment + brief coaching) is similar to the traditional treatment
 (interventionist-guided treatment) in terms of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary
 outcomes utilizing a non-randomized sequential arm design.
Caregiver and child pairs will complete a 14 week virtual, self-guided healthy lifestyle
 program including education on health and wellness topics such as food groups, physical
 activity and stress management. Special skill builders for managing the thoughts, feelings
 and emotions associated with changing health behaviors will also be included. Pairs will have
 biweekly 15 minute coaching sessions to check in on progress in the past week, set goals and
 problem solve. Optional group sessions will be offered for peer support. In order to assess
 progress, pairs will also complete assessment visits before and after the program. These
 visits include one virtual assessment via Zoom and one in-person assessment at the University
 of Alabama at Birmingham. Caregivers and children will complete questionnaires and measures
 such has height, weight, blood pressure and a finger prick.
Inclusion Criteria:

 Children who:

 1. have a BMI ≥ 85th percentile;

 2. are 8 and 14 years old at the beginning of treatment;

 3. can read, write, and speak English, along with their caregiver;

 4. plan to stay living in the local area during the study period;

 5. have a consenting caregiver who can commit to all study procedures.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Children who:

 1. have been diagnosed with a medical condition and/or are taking medication known to
 affect appetite/weight, physical activity level or executive function;

 2. are currently participating in a formal weight management program beyond usual medical
 care or have a caregiver participating in a formal weight management program.