Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

The proposed research seeks to understand the effects of an immersion-based weight loss program on the psychological and social health of obese adolescents. It is estimated that 15% of Canadian children meet the criteria for being overweight, and 30-40% may be at risk for obesity in their adult years. This rapidly increasing statistic is of grave concern to parents and children, public health and to all levels of our economy. Not only is obesity a physical health risk, it is a threat to psychological wellness. The link between physical and mental health is compelling, complex, and crucial to understand in order to fight pediatric obesity. The proposed research intends to assess an ethnically diverse sample of youth for depression, self and body esteem, and body mass index at several time points over the course of a holistic, immersion treatment program, in order to understand the effects of weight loss on youth's views of themselves and their mental health. This will be compared to an outpatient community weight loss program to further determine the effective elements of treatment. It is expected that as an individual experiences weight loss, their self and body esteem and their perceived social acceptance will improve, and levels of depression will diminish due to increased belief in themselves and the positive social connections within the immersion environment. It is expected that a full immersion approach will be more effective than a community support group. Understanding the complex relationship between mental and physical health, and comparing available treatment options is vital to the further development of effective treatment programs and to spreading public awareness about the effects of obesity on mental health. This research is a key step in getting to the bottom of pediatric obesity before it takes a greater toll on the next generation, the individual, public health and wellness.