College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 6;18(17):9387. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179387.
Adolescent obesity is a complex multifactorial disease with a combination of environmental, behavioral, psychosocial, biological, cultural and genetic determinants. It remains a global public health issue that presents a major challenge to chronic disease prevention and health into adulthood. Schools have a rich opportunity to improve youth health and tackle obesity, yet they face barriers in fulfilling this function. This study investigated school stakeholders' beliefs and perceptions of the barriers and enablers currently experienced by schools, as well as their recommendations towards preventing adolescent obesity. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study design was utilised with surveys administered for the quantitative phase and individual interviews for the qualitative phase. Descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analyses were utilised for the survey and interview data, respectively. Triangulation of findings from the quantitative and qualitative phases aided in the better understanding and integration of the overall results. In total, 60 school stakeholders (52 subject teachers, 3 senior teachers and 5 heads of department) from both independent and public high schools in Queensland, Australia responded to the survey, while 14 respondents participated in the interviews. The main perceived causes of obesity were poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. Highlighted barriers were busy timetables, shortage of trained staff and funding, lack of robustness in the introduction and implementation of school interventions and insufficient motivation of learners to participate in obesity prevention programs. Enabling factors included parental support, easy access to fitness equipment during recess, supportive government policies, provision of healthier school tuck shop menu options and elimination of sugary drinks from vending machines. A model for the prevention of adolescent obesity was developed based on participants' perceptions. Tripartite collaboration between the school, government and parents was perceived as fundamental to preventing adolescent obesity. Strategies targeting nutrition, physical activity and overall health, including parental education on health, formal health talks in schools by health professionals and better-targeted advertisement encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, were identified as essential for improved adolescent health outcomes.
青少年肥胖是一种复杂的多因素疾病，其发生受到环境、行为、心理社会、生物、文化和遗传因素的共同影响。它仍然是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，对预防慢性疾病和成年后的健康构成了重大挑战。学校有丰富的机会改善青少年的健康状况，解决肥胖问题，但在履行这一职能时，它们面临着障碍。本研究调查了学校利益相关者对学校目前所面临的障碍和促进因素的看法和看法，以及他们对预防青少年肥胖的建议。本研究采用了顺序解释性混合方法设计，在定量阶段进行了调查，在定性阶段进行了个人访谈。描述性统计和归纳主题分析分别用于调查和访谈数据。对定量和定性阶段的发现进行三角分析有助于更好地理解和整合整体结果。共有 60 名来自澳大利亚昆士兰州独立和公立高中的学校利益相关者（52 名学科教师、3 名高级教师和 5 名系主任）对调查做出了回应，而 14 名受访者参加了访谈。肥胖的主要原因是不良的饮食习惯和久坐的生活方式。突出的障碍包括忙碌的时间表、缺乏训练有素的员工和资金、学校干预措施的引入和实施缺乏稳健性以及学习者参与肥胖预防计划的动机不足。有利因素包括家长的支持、课间休息时方便使用健身器材、政府政策的支持、提供更健康的学校小吃菜单选择以及从自动售货机中消除含糖饮料。根据参与者的看法，制定了预防青少年肥胖的模型。学校、政府和家长之间的三方合作被认为是预防青少年肥胖的基础。针对营养、身体活动和整体健康的策略，包括对家长进行健康教育、由健康专业人员在学校进行正式的健康讲座以及更有针对性的广告宣传鼓励健康的生活方式选择，被认为是改善青少年健康结果的必要条件。
