Table 2.

Curriculum Matrix for the Group-Based Program

Week Theme	Content	Interactive Activities	Take Home/ Family Bonding Activity
Run-in Week 1 Orientation	Introduce staff Provide overview of program Complete baseline measures (anthropometrics, distribute accelerometers, check-in on dietary recalls)	Jeopardy Game	N/A
Run-in Week 2 Orientation	Introduce group members – ice breaker Complete any remaining baseline measures	FIT Feud FIT Bingo 2 Truths and a Lie	N/A
Week 1 Let’s Start Strong!	Reveal randomization Review general communication skills Review self-monitoring (general/teaser for next week)	Physical activity preferences poster Foods with special meaning poster Communication skills assessment (dyad) Group ground rules (group) Choose self-monitoring tool (facilitators work with families)	Use self-monitoring tool Have sit down discussions on calorie goals/monitoring
Week 2 Working Together Towards Weight Loss!	Review goal-setting (SMART goals) Review national recommendations for diet, physical activity, and sedentary behavior Review energy balance (see original FIT curriculum) and lifestyle behavior change Set specific calorie goals based on age, sex, activity level Review self-monitoring in more detail	Set calorie goals – USDA charts Self-monitoring game Set individual goals Discuss goals with the group (group)	Set family-related goal Have sit down discussions where they check in on goals
Week 3 “Together” Means Supporting One Another and Energy-In/Nutrition	Break out session – parents and adolescents separately Parent focus groups to review barriers and supports for helping teens make calorie goals (Review autonomy support strategies -push-pull, “You provide, they decide”) Adolescent focus groups to review pros and cons in the home environment (what is family doing that they like and don’t like related to weight loss goals) & Review of skills for eliciting social support Energy-in nutrition basics including fast food and sugar sweetened beverages	Brainstorm autonomy supportive opportunities that week (parents) Adolescents engage in role plays with one another where they practice eliciting social support	Continue to work on their calorie goals Have one sit down discussion where they use the communication tips from this week to discuss ways to support one another in reaching their calorie goals this week.
Week 4 Let’s Dig In!	Portion sizes, eating out, recognizing hunger and satiety cues, mindful eating, involving the teens in cooking Cultural relevancy – emotional eating Parenting skills: Engagement to increase fruit and vegetable consumption	Portion distortion game – practice measuring out portions Brainstorm ways to reduce portion sizes when eating out	Prepare a healthy meal together as a family that fits within calorie goal Use the strategy they discussed to prevent overeating
Week 5 Let’s Get Active!	Review PA in more detail Cultural relevancy – PA & hair Discuss lifestyles PA (enjoyment, convenience, small ways to get PA throughout the day, short bouts of PA) – give families pedometers Parenting skills specific to PA: Descriptive praise, “Escape hatch/volition/choice” Discuss with parents the importance of tangible support as it relates to their teen’s PA involvement	Family Walk & Talk to test pedometers, brainstorm ways they can fit PA into their lives in an easy way that involves multiple members of the family Brainstorm solutions to barrier to PA	Engage in one family-based PA session including where the parent provides tangible support for their teen.
Week 6 Get off the Couch! Please.	Review sedentary behavior in more detail Screen time, substituting healthy alternatives, family TV use, sitting time, junk food, sweetened beverages Cultural relevancy – discuss the difference in the stats of screen time use of US and SC youth and AA youth in the US and SC Parent skills: You provide, they decide around screen time; limit setting, monitoring	Average hours of TV time Substituting healthy alternatives to screen time and junk food Problem solving activity Set a family screen time goal	Apply the concept of budgeting and limit setting to their family TV time. Determine how they are going to support each other through monitoring screen time/media use or junk food.
Week 7 Listening to Connect	Revisit communication basics Break out session – teach parents active listening; adolescents revisit calorie goals and self-monitoring (more intensive coaching on behavior change) Begin post-group measures (anthropometrics including skin-folds and wait circumference, Families leave wearing accelerometers for post group measures	Role plays (parent plays teen, teen plays parent) to practice newly learned communication skills Parents engage in role plays with one another where they practice push-pull language	Have a family meeting and set family rules around one behavior
Week 8 Keep it Up!	Relapse prevention, planning for high risk situations Family potluck and testimonials Online preparation Families return accelerometers for post group measures	Potluck and family testimonials	Complete post group measures, get ready for online program!