Principles of Motivational Interviewing as Key Factors in Pediatric Obesity Intervention and Prevention

Abstract

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counseling method developed by Miller and Rollnick in 1991 that has been researched and applied widely to effect behavioral change in a broad range of cases including drugs, psychology, and health. This review explores the efficacy of MI as well as the various components of MI that may be responsible for its success relative to other Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods specifically in pediatric obesity. These components include autonomy, motivation, and self-determination that allow children to feel more involved in the process of dietetic intervention and may help them stay committed to their lifestyle changes, rather than approaches that focus on exclusively parental intervention and control of their diets. Furthermore, through a review of a plethora of studies about MI, there is evidence to suggest that the principles of MI, as isolated concepts, can and should be integrated by parents as methods to prevent future cases of obesity in youth and adolescents.