Reasons and Barriers to Lose Weight: Obese Adolescents’ Point of View.
Loading...
Date
2013-07
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Aims: To identify the reasons why obese adolescents seek weight loss therapy and
what barriers they face in losing weight.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physical Education and School Medical
Science, University of Pernambuco 2009-11.
Methodology: The study was conducted with 128 obese adolescents (76 girls
[BMI=35.46±3.92] and 52 boys [BMI=33.70±2.88]), aged between 12 to 18 years old Personal reasons for seeking weight loss treatment and barriers to losing weight were
obtained by an individual semi-structured interview (8 questions) conducted by a
psychologist. All individual interviews lasted approximately 20 min and were performed in
a quiet room. Adolescents’ answers were semi-transcribed by the researcher and the
content was anonymously analyzed in order to categorize the data.
Results: The main reason for girls to start a weight loss program was to become healthy
(39.47%), followed by to fit in clothes (30.26%), personal appearance (30.26%), and
bullying (28.95%). Physical fitness (40.38%) was the most important reason to seek
weight loss for boys, followed by to become healthy (36.54%), and bullying (25%). For
both genders, the main barriers described were lack of self-control (47.37% - 36.54%),
lack of social support (27.63% - 30.77%), and self-motivation (22.37% - 21.15%).
Conclusion: Obese adolescents had several reasons for seeing weight loss. Overall,
becoming healthy was the main motivation for weight loss and lack of self-control was
the main barrier. This information can be used to help develop more effective weight loss
strategies for obese adolescents.
Description
Keywords
Motivation, health, obesity, weight loss, childhood
Citation
Lofrano-Prado Mara Cristina, Hill James O, Silva Humberto José Gomes, Freitas Camila Rodrigues Menezes de, Freitas Clara Maria Silvestre Monteiro de, Ferreira Moacir de Novaes de Lima, Prado Wagner Luiz do. Reasons and Barriers to Lose Weight: Obese Adolescents’ Point of View. British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research. 2013 Jul-Sep; 3(3): 474-482.