Adolescents' perceptions of obesity treatment--an interview study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe adolescents' perceptions of obesity treatment in order to provide valuable information for design and development of treatment.


METHODS
A nominated sample of 18 obese adolescents (12 girls, 14-16 years, body mass index (BMI) 25-47.4 kg·m(-2)), recruited from a paediatric obesity clinic, participated in semi-structured interviews. These were analysed using a phenomenographic research approach. Purposeful sampling reflected variations in age, gender, degree of obesity, weight loss achievement, ethnicity, time of registration and socioeconomic status.


RESULTS
The adolescents expressed numerous physical, psychological and social disabilities as a consequence of their obesity. Qualitatively different ways of perceiving and responding to obesity treatment were identified and could be described in six categories of descriptions and a two-dimensional construct for interpreting these categories; (a) personal empowerment, (b) despair and disappointment, (c) safety and relief, (d) ambivalence and uncertainty, (e) acceptance and realisation and (f) shame and guilt. The distinguishing structures to be found between the categories were as follows: focus on the individual and focus on body weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment strategies must consider the large impact obesity has on adolescents' lives. It is necessary to engage the obese adolescent personally in the treatment process and to focus on the adolescents' personal needs, goals and motive for weight reduction.
Morinder
Gunilla
G
Karolinska Institutet, Department for Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Pediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, National Childhood Obesity Centre, Huddinge, SE 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. gunilla.morinder@karolinska.se
Biguet
Gabriele
G
Mattsson
Eva
E
Marcus
Claude
C
Larsson
Ulla Evers
UE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000592:standards*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss