Adolescents' Perspectives on Everyday Life with Obesity: a Qualitative Study

Overview

Journal Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2018 Jun 19

PMID 29912659

Citations 13

Authors

Gudbjorg Oen

Bente Kvilhaugsvik

Kari Eldal

Anne-Grethe Halding

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the perspectives and life experiences of adolescents living with obesity.

Methods: Five adolescents living with obesity were involved in repeated interviews, and qualitative content analysis was performed.

Results: Three themes emerged: obesity as a multi-faceted and difficult to solve condition; obesity as a shameful and vulnerable subject; and bullying and fragile social relationships. Adolescents living with obesity described everyday life challenges as difficult to interpret and solve. Adolescents living with obesity perceived causes for obesity differently, and those who emphasised familial determinants seemed to face greater challenges. Lack of support from parents, trusted friends and health-care providers and bullying, shame, guilt and self-blame represented threats that decreased motivation for help seeking and successful life-style changes. The adolescents were ambivalent regarding disclosing their concerns and seeking help. The adolescents feared that health care providers would demand too much from them, and peers were perceived as a possible source of support.

Conclusion: Care providers need to be skilled in assessing each individual's resources and interpretations of their condition, to be able to communicate in a respectful, patient-centred manner and to assist adolescents to explore their ambivalence and set their own realistic goals. More research is needed.

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Struggling with overweight or obesity in children - fathers' perceptions and experiences of contributing factors, role and responsibility.

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