Which health promotion strategy is most effective for treating obesity in adolescents?

Motivational interviewing is recognized as an effective health promotion strategy for treating obesity in adolescents because it emphasizes collaboration and communication between the clinician and the adolescent. This approach focuses on enhancing the individual's intrinsic motivation to change behaviors related to diet and physical activity. By using open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, motivational interviewing helps adolescents explore their own reasons for wanting to make changes, which can lead to more sustainable behavior modification.

Unlike other strategies, which may rely on external motivation or prescriptive approaches, motivational interviewing respects the adolescent’s autonomy and fosters a sense of ownership over their health decisions. This can lead to better engagement in health-promoting behaviors, making it particularly effective in the context of adolescent obesity management.