With one in three U.S. children affected by overweight or obesity, there is an urgent need for accessible, evidence-based interventions. Bright Bodies (BB) is a structured, multicomponent intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) for children and adolescents aged 7–16 years and their parents or caregivers. The program typically includes twice-weekly group classes delivered in successive 12-week sessions, combining supervised physical activity, nutrition education, and behavioral strategies to promote healthy lifestyle changes. Parents or caregivers participate in parallel or joint sessions to reinforce these behaviors at home.
Developed at Yale, BB demonstrated efficacy in a diverse urban population in a randomized trial two decades ago. Participants achieved reductions in %BMIp95 of −10.7% at 6 months and −11.9% at 12 months compared with standard clinical care, with improvements maintained up to two years post-intervention. Additional benefits included improved body composition, insulin resistance, and self-concept scores, particularly among children with low baseline self-concept.
Recent studies demonstrate cost savings compared with usual clinical care and confirm real-world effectiveness beyond the original trial, despite adaptations due to funding and staffing constraints. The curriculum, SmartMoves™, has been disseminated to over 40 heterogenous sites in the U.S. and globally, though barriers to broad implementation and sustainment persist and limit access. To address these barriers, we recently conducted a mixed-methods formative evaluation and user-centered design process to optimize both the intervention and its implementation package. Concurrently, recent investments by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have supported implementation of six CDC-endorsed, proven-effective Family Healthy Weight Programs, including BB, to further expand access to effective IHBLT.
Bright Bodies illustrates a feasible, family-centered, and evidence-based approach to pediatric obesity care that is adaptable to diverse populations and settings.