School of Public Health, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Health Expect. 2022 Aug;25(4):1832-1843. doi: 10.1111/hex.13528. Epub 2022 May 27.
A qualitative study was carried out to explore obese adolescents' understanding of physical activity, perceptions of the ideal body type and to identify facilitators of and barriers to physical activity.
Twenty-two adolescents 12-18 years of age and 14 of their parents were recruited from an obesity intervention programme in Brooklyn, New York, from June to November 2017. Data were collected using focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews, followed by interpretative phenomenological analysis of the transcripts.
The adolescents wanted to 'lose some weight', but not to be 'thin' or 'look hungry'. Most females desired a 'slim-thick' figure, which was 'a flat stomach with big thighs, and curvy'. Fun and support from parents, peers and programme staff facilitated achieving their physical activity goals. Barriers included low self-efficacy, inactive families, fear of neighbourhood gangs and crime and perceptions that the parks were small and overcrowded, with limited physical activity options for adolescents.
These findings highlight the need to consider local norms concerning body image when designing obesity interventions. To effectively reduce childhood obesity in New York City, policy should prioritize the promotion of public safety, improvement of neighbourhood parks and increase options for physical activity.
The voices and narratives of patients and their families informed this study.
本研究开展了一项定性研究，旨在探讨肥胖青少年对体育活动的理解、对理想体型的看法，以及确定促进和阻碍体育活动的因素。
2017 年 6 月至 11 月，从纽约布鲁克林的一个肥胖干预项目中招募了 22 名 12-18 岁的青少年和他们的 14 名家长。使用焦点小组和个人半结构化访谈收集数据，随后对转录本进行解释性现象学分析。
青少年希望“减轻一些体重”，但不想“瘦”或“看起来饿”。大多数女性希望拥有“苗条丰满”的身材，即“平坦的腹部，大腿粗壮，曲线优美”。来自父母、同龄人、项目工作人员的乐趣和支持有助于实现他们的体育活动目标。障碍包括低自我效能感、不活跃的家庭、对邻里帮派和犯罪的恐惧，以及认为公园小而拥挤，可供青少年选择的体育活动有限。
这些发现强调了在设计肥胖干预措施时需要考虑当地的身体形象标准。为了有效减少纽约市的儿童肥胖，政策应优先考虑促进公共安全、改善社区公园和增加青少年体育活动的选择。
患者及其家属的声音和叙述为本研究提供了信息。
