world health organization
Article: Barriers and enablers for adopting lifestyle behavior changes in adolescents with obesity, a multi-center qualitative study.
According to world health organization (WHO), more than 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight or obese in 2016. The complications of obesity are more apparent in adolescents. Adolescent with obesity are at risk for conditions including cardiovascular disease, depression, low self-esteem, diabetes, hypertension and psychological and social problems. Obesity have a negative impact on the individual, family and health care cost. To explore barriers and enablers influencing the adoption of lifestyle behaviors changes among adolescents receiving multidisciplinary clinical care for obesity management, researchers use purposeful sampling which means they select participants who will provide specific information according to research questions. The researchers selected individuals base on the characteristics of the population and specific objective of the study.
Two sites that were used to collect data to conduct this study are: PCWH (Pediatric Center for Weight and Health) and Center for Healthy Active Living (CHAL: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON). The researchers recruited adolescent between 13-17 years of age with Body mass index (BMI) more than or equal to 85th percentile and have been on weight management for three months or more at PCHW or CHAL, which indicates they have spent some time reflecting on their health behaviors and working with healthcare providers on weight management. To recruit samples the researchers displayed posters on each of the clinic waiting rooms and the administrative, clinical research staffs identified eligible adolescents/families from clinic data base who were then contacted through phone or in person to assess their interest. Interested adolescents were offered several dates and times to chose from to participate in the study. Most of the adolescent’s participants were female, Caucasian, Anglophone, who were living with severe obesity.
The research provides useful evidence to tailor interventions on healthcare services regarding obesity, a focus on psychological well-being, to support adolescent with obesity in making and maintaining appropriate healthy behavior changes.