학술논문
Experiences of Obese Adolescents trying to Reach a Healthy Weight: Considerations for the Development of a Curriculum Guide
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Source
Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal. December, 2018, Vol. 37 Issue 4, p208, 5 p.
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0738-0658
Abstract
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the twenty-first century (1). It has been considered an epidemic, given the magnitude and scope that it poses [...]
Objective: Obesity, almost all around the world, has been described by the medical authorities as the most common pediatric illness in children and youngsters. The purpose of this study is to explore, describe, and analyze the experiences of obese adolescents on being obese and trying to reach a healthy weight. Design and Methods: A convenience sample of eight obese adolescents from 15 to 17 years old of both genders from three high schools of the educational region of San Juan, Puerto Rico was obtained. A phenomenological multiple-case study was conducted using a semi-structured interview. Results: The experience of trying to reach a healthy weight is difficult because it requires a lot of physical effort to do exercises and physical activities, they lack the support of parents and trainers, and because of the availability of food with low nutritional value in their environment. Participants also pointed out that it is difficult due to the negative feelings that adolescents experience while performing the activities to lose weight. Conclusion: The goal to reach a healthy weight is difficult. It is recommended that agencies that work with overweight and obesity problems provide people with the knowledge, strategies, alternatives, and needed activities from a biopsychosocial perspective to help adolescents with this health condition to be successful in reaching and keeping a healthy weight. Key words: Adolescents, Obesity, Overweight, Obesity Treatment, Prevention, Public Health La obesidad, en la mayor parte del mundo, ha sido descrita por las autoridades medicas como la enfermedad pediatrica mas comun en ninos y jovenes. Objetivo: Explorar, describir y analizar las experiencias de los adolescentes obesos de estar obesos y de tratar de alcanzar un peso saludable. Diseno y metodo: Se obtuvo una muestra por conveniencia de ocho adolescentes obesos de 15 a 17 anos de ambos generos de tres escuelas superiores de la region educativa de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Se aplico un diseno fenomenologico de casos multiples utilizando una entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados : La experiencia de tratar de alcanzar un peso saludable es dificil porque requiere mucho esfuerzo fisico para hacer los ejercicios y las actividades fisicas, carecen del apoyo de sus padres y entrenadores y por la disponibilidad de alimentos con un bajo valor nutritivo en el ambiente externo. Los participantes tambien destacaron que es dificil debido a los sentimientos negativos que experimentan mientras realizan las actividades para perder peso. Conclusiones: La meta para alcanzar un peso saludable es dificil. Es recomendable que las agencias que trabajan con los problemas de sobrepeso y obesidad provean a las personas con el conocimiento, estrategias, alternativas y las actividades necesarias desde una perspectiva biopsicosocial para ayudar a los adolescentes con estas condiciones de salud a ser exitosos en alcanzar y mantener un peso saludable.
Objective: Obesity, almost all around the world, has been described by the medical authorities as the most common pediatric illness in children and youngsters. The purpose of this study is to explore, describe, and analyze the experiences of obese adolescents on being obese and trying to reach a healthy weight. Design and Methods: A convenience sample of eight obese adolescents from 15 to 17 years old of both genders from three high schools of the educational region of San Juan, Puerto Rico was obtained. A phenomenological multiple-case study was conducted using a semi-structured interview. Results: The experience of trying to reach a healthy weight is difficult because it requires a lot of physical effort to do exercises and physical activities, they lack the support of parents and trainers, and because of the availability of food with low nutritional value in their environment. Participants also pointed out that it is difficult due to the negative feelings that adolescents experience while performing the activities to lose weight. Conclusion: The goal to reach a healthy weight is difficult. It is recommended that agencies that work with overweight and obesity problems provide people with the knowledge, strategies, alternatives, and needed activities from a biopsychosocial perspective to help adolescents with this health condition to be successful in reaching and keeping a healthy weight. Key words: Adolescents, Obesity, Overweight, Obesity Treatment, Prevention, Public Health La obesidad, en la mayor parte del mundo, ha sido descrita por las autoridades medicas como la enfermedad pediatrica mas comun en ninos y jovenes. Objetivo: Explorar, describir y analizar las experiencias de los adolescentes obesos de estar obesos y de tratar de alcanzar un peso saludable. Diseno y metodo: Se obtuvo una muestra por conveniencia de ocho adolescentes obesos de 15 a 17 anos de ambos generos de tres escuelas superiores de la region educativa de San Juan, Puerto Rico. Se aplico un diseno fenomenologico de casos multiples utilizando una entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados : La experiencia de tratar de alcanzar un peso saludable es dificil porque requiere mucho esfuerzo fisico para hacer los ejercicios y las actividades fisicas, carecen del apoyo de sus padres y entrenadores y por la disponibilidad de alimentos con un bajo valor nutritivo en el ambiente externo. Los participantes tambien destacaron que es dificil debido a los sentimientos negativos que experimentan mientras realizan las actividades para perder peso. Conclusiones: La meta para alcanzar un peso saludable es dificil. Es recomendable que las agencias que trabajan con los problemas de sobrepeso y obesidad provean a las personas con el conocimiento, estrategias, alternativas y las actividades necesarias desde una perspectiva biopsicosocial para ayudar a los adolescentes con estas condiciones de salud a ser exitosos en alcanzar y mantener un peso saludable.