Interpersonal psychotherapy for the prevention of excess weight gain in Black/African American adolescent girls

This chapter explores interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for Black/African American adolescent girls with high weight and disordered eating. It reviews the rationale for preventing adult obesity in Black/African American teenagers and the preliminary research supporting IPT for this underrepresented group. It also provides an overview of a culturally adapted IPT program for the prevention of excess weight gain in Black/African American teenagers. The chapter considers IPT as an alternative that addresses culturally salient enablers and barriers to effective weight stabilization in Black/African American adolescent girls at risk for adult obesity. It presents an adapted IPT program for the prevention of excess IPT adolescent weight gain in a group format for adolescents at risk for adult obesity.