title: The use of commitment techniques to support weight loss maintenance in obese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a rising problem in adolescents related to unhealthy behaviours. Commitment devises are one type of behavioural intervention that may help people change their behaviours. The current pilot trial tests whether commitment devices delivered via text message help adolescents maintain their recent weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 12-week pilot trial, adolescents who attended a weight loss camp were randomly assigned to either received text messages that contained only information, i.e. advice, about weight loss management (n = 13) or asked for them to commit to following the same advise (n = 14).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BMI of the adolescents in the commitment group did not change. In contrast, the BMI of adolescents in the information group increased. A linear regression revealed that group was a significant predictor of BMI change. A logistic regression revealed that adolescents in the information group were nearly eight times more likely to regain weight than those in the commitment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study with adolescents to show weight maintenance using a commitment device. The results suggest that commitment devices can help adolescents maintain their recent weight loss.
authors.affiliation: a Imperial College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Myutan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulendran
authors.affiliation: a Imperial College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: b Warwick Business School, University of Warwick , Coventry , UK.
authors.forename: Kelly Ann
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schmidtke
authors.affiliation: c School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: c School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University , Leeds , UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gately
authors.affiliation: a Imperial College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
authors.affiliation: b Warwick Business School, University of Warwick , Coventry , UK.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlaev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D060145:Text Messaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Nudge; adolescents; commitment device; weight maintenance