Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the link between adolescents’ experiences of participating in a weight-loss programme and their weight status, Health-Related Quality of Life and selfconcept over 5 years. Design and Method: A qualitative study with a hermeneutic approach, focused on interpreting adolescents’ experiences. Interviews of 10 adolescents in a weight-loss programme, and their parents, three times over 5 years. The interview findings were supported by BMI-SDS (Body Mass Index standard deviation scores) and questionnaires: Health- Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), and self-concept (Beck Youth Inventories, BSCI-Y). Results: Immediately after completion of the weight-loss programme, the 10 adolescents had all lost weight and experienced other effects, e.g. more energy, making friends and discovering commonalities, along with improved physical parameters, experienced HRQOL and self-concept. However, weight loss was difficult to maintain after completion. Some adolescents who had regained weight 1 year after completion reported lower perceived HRQOL and self-concept and also left the study. Conclusion: Weight loss can be achieved during a treatment programme for overweight adolescents, bringing lower BMI and also potential psycho-social benefits. Focus on weight loss alone may involve overlooking other positive sideeffects of the treatment. There are also overlooked negative effects: Not all participants maintained weight loss, and for regainers, some HRQOL and self-concept scores deteriorated, compared to their situation pre-programme. These negative effects are not described in other studies. Practice Implications: We encourage enhanced professional support for drop-outs and regainers, and we recommend ongoing, open-ended programmes to better retain and support adolescents and their families. Our findings indicate this would improve intervention outcomes for the entire group.
Highlights
IntroductionWe report on the links between how adolescents experience participating in a 1-year weight-loss programme, and the effect of this participation in the long term (over a period of 5 years after completing the weight-loss programme itself)
In this article, we report on the links between how adolescents experience participating in a 1-year weight-loss programme, and the effect of this participation in the long term
We found that the adolescents in the weight-loss programme all achieved weight loss, while experiencing other effects such as becoming more energetic and getting in better physical shape, making friends and discovering a sense of kinship and commonality with peers
Summary
We report on the links between how adolescents experience participating in a 1-year weight-loss programme, and the effect of this participation in the long term (over a period of 5 years after completing the weight-loss programme itself). The prevalence of obesity has reached critical levels worldwide, and childhood obesity is one of the gravest publichealth challenges of the 21st century [5]. This group suffers severe medical consequences, which can lead to long-term health problems [6,7]. Adolescents with overweight often experience lower quality of life, social and emotional problems, and negative body self-image. This can cause lower expectations to their own academic achievement, and thereby fewer years of education, leading in turn to lower future job status than that of their normal-weight peers [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
