{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T16:33:29Z","timestamp":1786120409566,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Form Res"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n Obesity is a chronic disease requiring long-term treatment, yet current treatment models do not align with the chronicity of obesity. Current guidelines provide limited direction on how to adapt treatment to support weight loss maintenance as adolescents transition into emerging adulthood, a distinct developmental period from the late teens to the mid-to-late twenties.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This qualitative study aims to (1) better understand adolescents\u2019 and their parents\u2019 experiences after behavioral weight-loss treatment as they navigate the transition from late adolescence into emerging adulthood and (2) identify the weight-management support needed during this transition. Formative data are critical to understanding the unique needs of youth with obesity after treatment, especially as they navigate the transition from late adolescence to emerging adulthood.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Adolescents and parents (20 dyads; mean adolescent age 16.5, SD 0.6 y) completed semistructured interviews more than 11 months after participation in a 4-month multicomponent behavioral weight-loss treatment. Interview domains included adolescent and parent perceptions of facilitators and barriers to weight management following program completion, as well as needs and preferences for continued support during the transition to emerging adulthood. Adolescents were asked open-ended questions regarding their current health and weight management behaviors, perceived facilitators and barriers to engagement in health behaviors, parental and social support, and preferences for ongoing weight management support. Parents were asked parallel questions addressing their adolescents\u2019 behaviors, their evolving roles as their teens transitioned to emerging adulthood, and recommendations for additional support. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n Adolescents and parents reported that adolescents maintained several weight management behaviors (eg, regular exercise, self-weighing, and improved diet quality), while identifying others as more difficult to sustain (eg, monitoring food intake and meal planning). Reported facilitators included consistent routines and various opportunities for physical activity (eg, diverse exercise options), while barriers included time constraints, competing priorities, and external influences (eg, the eating behaviors of other family members). Both adolescents and parents expressed a desire for continued support during the transition to emerging adulthood to sustain healthy behaviors and navigate changing roles. Most adolescents and parents expressed interest in participating in a booster program to support weight management during this period, particularly to enhance accountability. Preferences for frequency, duration, and format varied (eg, meeting frequency, program length, or in-person vs virtual).<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Findings identify key weight-management behaviors that families maintained after treatment, as well as areas that require ongoing support. Results underscore the need for continued support for weight-management behaviors during the transition to emerging adulthood and offer guidance on program structure and content. Results can be used to inform the development of a targeted behavioral weight-management transition program that addresses adolescents\u2019 evolving needs during the shift to emerging adulthood, improving long-term outcomes and reducing health risks.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/95649","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T11:30:12Z","timestamp":1782819012000},"page":"e95649-e95649","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Support After Adolescent Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment During the Transition Into Emerging Adulthood: Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2064-6119","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura Jean","family":"Caccavale","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6988-4989","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katlyn","family":"Garr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1792-4168","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Madison","family":"Weinstock","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5729-8720","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria D","family":"Thomson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6497-4814","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica Gokee","family":"LaRose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4697-7573","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kristina","family":"Tatum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8695-8054","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Melanie K","family":"Bean","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"reference":[{"issue":"10469","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2278","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(24)01548-4","article-title":"National-level and state-level prevalence of overweight and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults in the USA, 1990-2021, and forecasts up to 2050","volume":"404","author":"GBD 2021 US Obesity Forecasting Collaborators","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"issue":"5","key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.55.5.469","volume":"55","author":"Arnett","journal-title":"Am Psychol"},{"issue":"12","key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1208","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2020.14590","article-title":"Trends in obesity prevalence by race and Hispanic origin-1999-2000 to 2017-2018","volume":"324","author":"Ogden","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"1","key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2024-070370","article-title":"Obesity and severe obesity in youth before and during COVID-19","volume":"157","author":"Messiah","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"23","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2362","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa031049","article-title":"Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents","volume":"350","author":"Weiss","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"17","key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2271","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.290.17.2271","article-title":"Childhood cardiovascular risk factors and carotid vascular changes in adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study","volume":"290","author":"Li","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"20","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2013","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacc.2007.03.009","article-title":"Early adult risk factor levels and subsequent coronary artery calcification: the CARDIA Study","volume":"49","author":"Loria","journal-title":"J Am Coll Cardiol"},{"issue":"2","key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpeds.2007.09.010","article-title":"Metabolic syndrome in childhood predicts adult metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus 25 to 30 years later","volume":"152","author":"Morrison","journal-title":"J Pediatr"},{"issue":"2","key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2022-060640","article-title":"Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with obesity","volume":"151","author":"Hampl","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"6","key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD012691","article-title":"Diet, physical activity and behavioural interventions for the treatment of overweight or obese adolescents aged 12 to 17 years","volume":"6","author":"Al-Khudairy","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2010\/789280","article-title":"Maintenance of weight loss in adolescents: current status and future directions","volume":"2010","author":"Butryn","journal-title":"J Obes"},{"issue":"3","key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2010-0697","article-title":"Long-term results of an obesity program in an ethnically diverse pediatric population","volume":"127","author":"Savoye","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"2","key":"R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e281","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2011-3283","article-title":"Two-year follow-up of an adolescent behavioral weight control intervention","volume":"130","author":"Lloyd-Richardson","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"5","key":"R14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2024-067858","article-title":"Pediatric obesity pharmacotherapy: state of the science, research gaps, and opportunities","volume":"154","author":"Armstrong","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"4","key":"R15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"592","DOI":"10.1097\/XCS.0000000000000325","article-title":"Long-term outcomes after adolescent bariatric surgery","volume":"235","author":"de la Cruz-Mu\u00f1oz","journal-title":"J Am Coll Surg"},{"issue":"6","key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2020.0085","article-title":"Obesity treatment among adolescents: a review of current evidence and future directions","volume":"174","author":"Cardel","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr"},{"issue":"4","key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"475","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2013.215","article-title":"Transition to adult care in adolescent obesity: a systematic review and why it is a neglected topic","volume":"38","author":"Shrewsbury","journal-title":"Int J Obes (Lond)"},{"issue":"1","key":"R18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1007\/s11154-025-09998-x","article-title":"Bridging the gap: recommendations to accomplish transition from pediatric to adult care in adolescents living with obesity","volume":"27","author":"Goday","journal-title":"Rev Endocr Metab Disord"},{"issue":"11","key":"R19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1834","DOI":"10.1038\/s41366-018-0231-x","article-title":"Working toward precision medicine approaches to treat severe obesity in adolescents: report of an NIH workshop","volume":"42","author":"Kelly","journal-title":"Int J Obes (Lond)"},{"key":"R20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hotez E Rava J Weinstein S . Care of adults with chronic childhood conditions. In: Kuo AA Pilapil M DeLaet DE Peacock C Sharma N , editors. Emerging Adulthood as A Developmental Stage. Springer International Publishing; 2024:15-22. [doi: 10.1007\/978-3-031-54281-7_2]","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-54281-7_2"},{"key":"R21","unstructured":"Arnett JJ . Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press; 2004. ISBN: 9780199929382"},{"issue":"3","key":"R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2020-003293","article-title":"Parents and adolescents: what\u2019s the right mix in obesity treatment?","volume":"146","author":"Hassink","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"issue":"6","key":"R23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"842","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2006.07.001","article-title":"Fast food consumption and breakfast skipping: predictors of weight gain from adolescence to adulthood in a nationally representative sample","volume":"39","author":"Niemeier","journal-title":"J Adolesc Health"},{"issue":"10","key":"R24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2205","DOI":"10.1038\/oby.2008.365","article-title":"Emerging adulthood and college-aged youth: an overlooked age for weight-related behavior change","volume":"16","author":"Nelson","journal-title":"Obesity (Silver Spring)"},{"issue":"1","key":"R25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eatbeh.2006.04.005","article-title":"Readiness to change sugar sweetened beverage intake among college students","volume":"8","author":"Huffman","journal-title":"Eat Behav"},{"issue":"11","key":"R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1696","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jada.2011.08.007","article-title":"Young adults and eating away from home: associations with dietary intake patterns and weight status differ by choice of restaurant","volume":"111","author":"Larson","journal-title":"J Am Diet Assoc"},{"issue":"9","key":"R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1601","DOI":"10.1097\/00005768-200009000-00013","article-title":"Changes in physical activity patterns in the United States, by sex and cross-sectional age","volume":"32","author":"Caspersen","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"issue":"4","key":"R28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amepre.2004.07.006","article-title":"Longitudinal physical activity and sedentary behavior trends: adolescence to adulthood","volume":"27","author":"Gordon-Larsen","journal-title":"Am J Prev Med"},{"key":"R29","unstructured":"Results from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); 2016. URL: https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/data\/sites\/default\/files\/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015\/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015\/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf [Accessed 15-05-2017]"},{"issue":"12","key":"R30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1172","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a010167","article-title":"Weight gain continues in the 1990s: 10-year trends in weight and overweight from the CARDIA study. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults","volume":"151","author":"Lewis","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"issue":"9","key":"R31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1397","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0803307","article-title":"Changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease by baseline weight status in young adults who maintain or gain weight over 15 years: the CARDIA study","volume":"30","author":"Truesdale","journal-title":"Int J Obes (Lond)"},{"issue":"20","key":"R32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2073","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2021.16685","article-title":"Trends in obesity prevalence among adults aged 18 through 25 years, 1976-2018","volume":"326","author":"Ellison-Barnes","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"7","key":"R33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1423","DOI":"10.1038\/oby.2009.365","article-title":"Weight status continuity and change from adolescence to young adulthood: examining disease and health risk conditions","volume":"18","author":"Merten","journal-title":"Obesity (Silver Spring)"},{"issue":"12","key":"R34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1374","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2009.185","article-title":"Are standard behavioral weight loss programs effective for young adults?","volume":"33","author":"Gokee-LaRose","journal-title":"Int J Obes (Lond)"},{"key":"R35","unstructured":"Committee on Improving the Health, Safety, and Well-Being of Young Adults; Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council. The health care system. In: Bonnie RJ Stroud C Breiner H , editors. Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults. National Academies Press; 2015. ISBN: 9780309309950"},{"issue":"4","key":"R36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"742","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2009.276","article-title":"Weight loss and retention in a commercial weight-loss program and the effect of corporate partnership","volume":"34","author":"Martin","journal-title":"Int J Obes (Lond)"},{"key":"R37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cct.2021.106426","article-title":"Behavioral weight loss in emerging adults: design and rationale for the Richmond Emerging Adults Choosing Health (REACH) randomized clinical trial","volume":"107","author":"LaRose","journal-title":"Contemp Clin Trials"},{"key":"R38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cct.2017.06.007","article-title":"Using social media to deliver weight loss programming to young adults: design and rationale for the Healthy Body Healthy U (HBHU) trial","volume":"60","author":"Napolitano","journal-title":"Contemp Clin Trials"},{"issue":"9","key":"R39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"747","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-8587(16)30105-X","article-title":"Using social and mobile tools for weight loss in overweight and obese young adults (Project SMART): a 2-year parallel group randomized controlled trial","volume":"4","author":"Godino","journal-title":"Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol"},{"issue":"1","key":"R40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-023-16421-0","article-title":"The role of parents in behavioral treatment for adolescent obesity: design and rationale for the TEENS+ randomized clinical trial","volume":"23","author":"Bean","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"R41","unstructured":"Strauss A Corbin JM . Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. SAGE Publications; 1990. ISBN: 9780803932500"},{"issue":"9","key":"R42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000000388","article-title":"Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations","volume":"89","author":"O\u2019Brien","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"R43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"421","DOI":"10.1002\/oby.22685","article-title":"Behavioral and psychological strategies of long-term weight loss maintainers in a widely available weight management program","volume":"28","author":"Phelan","journal-title":"Obesity (Silver Spring)"},{"issue":"3","key":"R44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"482","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0838.2009.01064.x","article-title":"Exploring exercise behavior, intention and habit strength relationships","volume":"21","author":"de Bruijn","journal-title":"Scand J Med Sci Sports"},{"issue":"1","key":"R45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1007\/s13679-016-0188-9","article-title":"Young adults\u2019 attitudes and perceptions of obesity and weight management: implications for treatment development","volume":"5","author":"Lanoye","journal-title":"Curr Obes Rep"},{"key":"R46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.adolescence.2019.02.010","article-title":"Adolescents with chronic illness and the transition to self-management: a systematic review","volume":"72","author":"Lerch","journal-title":"J Adolesc"},{"issue":"4","key":"R47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1111\/cch.12334","article-title":"You never transition alone! Exploring the experiences of youth with chronic health conditions, parents and healthcare providers on self-management","volume":"42","author":"Nguyen","journal-title":"Child Care Health Dev"},{"issue":"1","key":"R48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.5993\/AJHB.38.1.15","article-title":"Social norms and dietary behaviors among young adults","volume":"38","author":"Pelletier","journal-title":"Am J Health Behav"},{"issue":"6","key":"R49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1157","DOI":"10.1038\/oby.2010.301","article-title":"Social influences are associated with BMI and weight loss intentions in young adults","volume":"19","author":"Leahey","journal-title":"Obesity (Silver Spring)"},{"key":"R50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ypmed.2024.108066","article-title":"Do parents engage in weight- and health-focused conversations with their emerging adult children and are there cross-sectional associations with weight and well-being outcomes?","volume":"186","author":"Berge","journal-title":"Prev Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"R51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/cts.2024.553","article-title":"Lifestyle intervention and support preferences to maximize health outcomes in adolescent bariatric surgery patients","volume":"8","author":"Allicock","journal-title":"J Clin Transl Sci"}],"container-title":["JMIR Formative Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T20:52:22Z","timestamp":1786049542000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/formative.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e95649"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"references-count":51,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/95649","relation":{},"ISSN":["2561-326X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2561-326X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"article-number":"v10i10469e95649"}}