Madrigal Luisa, Adams Inez, Chacon Violeta, Barnoya Joaquin
Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala Research Department, 5a Av. 6-22 zona 11, Guatemala, 01011, Guatemala.
Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Calzada Roosevelt 6-25 zona 11, Guatemala, 1188, Guatemala.
BMC Public Health. 2017 Jan 5;17(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3978-9.
Overweight prevalence among Guatemalan girls is higher in public than in private schools. Little is known about adolescent girls' perceptions of the right ways to achieve a healthy weight. This study examines public and private school adolescent girls' perceptions of a "healthy weight," and barriers and facilitators to achieving it.
We conducted 4 focus groups in public and private schools in Guatemala City with girls from 13 to 15 years old. The discussion guide included open-ended questions and activities aimed at examining perceptions of "healthy weight" and barriers and motivators to achieving it within the school environment. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analyses followed established methods of content analysis.
Twenty-eight girls (private school, n = 12; public school, n = 16) of ages ranging from 13.1 to 15.9 years (median, 14, IQR, 13.6-14.9) participated in the study. Girls identified images of thin and fit women as healthy. They cited healthy eating and physical activity as ways to achieve a healthy weight. Within the school environment, barriers to maintaining a healthy weight included a lack of healthy food options and the prioritization of sports for boys over girls. In public schools, facilities were less than optimal; in private schools, girls' access to facilities was limited. Public school girls stated that their uniforms were inappropriate for exercising.
Our findings support the need to provide more healthy food options in Guatemalan schools. In addition, physical activity for girls should be promoted and facilities made available for their use.
危地马拉公立学校女生的超重患病率高于私立学校。对于青春期女孩对实现健康体重的正确方法的认知了解甚少。本研究调查了公立和私立学校青春期女孩对“健康体重”的认知，以及实现健康体重的障碍和促进因素。
我们在危地马拉城的公立和私立学校对13至15岁的女孩进行了4次焦点小组访谈。讨论指南包括开放式问题和活动，旨在调查对“健康体重”的认知以及在学校环境中实现健康体重的障碍和动机。焦点小组访谈进行了录音和转录。数据分析采用既定的内容分析方法。
28名年龄在13.1至15.9岁（中位数14岁，四分位间距13.6 - 14.9岁）的女孩（私立学校12名，公立学校16名）参与了研究。女孩们认为苗条健康的女性形象才是健康的。她们列举健康饮食和体育活动是实现健康体重的方法。在学校环境中，维持健康体重的障碍包括缺乏健康的食物选择以及学校优先发展男生体育而非女生体育。在公立学校，设施不太理想；在私立学校，女孩使用设施的机会有限。公立学校的女孩表示她们的校服不适合运动。
我们的研究结果支持在危地马拉学校提供更多健康食物选择的必要性。此外，应促进女孩的体育活动并提供可供她们使用的设施。
