Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health

Introduction Obesity in adolescence is a significant ongoing public health problem that has not improved over the past decade. Objective This descriptive qualitative study explores the perspective of female adolescents who are overweight or obese regarding their views on health and weight within the...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: April L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPN, Julia A. Snethen PhD, RN, FAAN, Aaron L. Carrel MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-05-01
Series:SAGE Open Nursing
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211018523
id doaj-38f716c9710140778bc95baea9a20397
record_format Article
spelling doaj-38f716c9710140778bc95baea9a203972021-05-28T21:33:33ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Nursing2377-96082021-05-01710.1177/23779608211018523Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental HealthApril L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPNJulia A. Snethen PhD, RN, FAANAaron L. Carrel MDIntroduction Obesity in adolescence is a significant ongoing public health problem that has not improved over the past decade. Objective This descriptive qualitative study explores the perspective of female adolescents who are overweight or obese regarding their views on health and weight within the clinic setting. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with female adolescents (age 13–19 years old; BMI ≥85th percentile) from the mid-west region of the United States (N = 28). Inductive thematic analysis using Braun & Clarke’s methods was utilized. Results The findings from this study revealed that the adolescents’ view of health encompasses physical, mental, and psychosocial health dimensions, and despite being overweight and obese, the participants felt healthy. Participants discussed the need to eat healthier and increase their daily physical activity, but were unable to transform this into action. Within the clinical setting, the adolescents were sensitive to weight discussions. Conclusion Results from this study can increase providers’ understanding of the adolescent, increase awareness of adolescent sensitivity, and assist researchers in developing age-appropriate interventions for effective treatment and prevention of childhood obesity.https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211018523
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author April L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPN
Julia A. Snethen PhD, RN, FAAN
Aaron L. Carrel MD
spellingShingle April L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPN
Julia A. Snethen PhD, RN, FAAN
Aaron L. Carrel MD
Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
SAGE Open Nursing
author_facet April L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPN
Julia A. Snethen PhD, RN, FAAN
Aaron L. Carrel MD
author_sort April L. Yerges PhD, RN, CPN
title Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
title_short Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
title_full Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
title_fullStr Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
title_full_unstemmed Adolescent Girls With Overweight and Obesity Feel Physically Healthy and Highlight the Importance of Mental Health
title_sort adolescent girls with overweight and obesity feel physically healthy and highlight the importance of mental health
publisher SAGE Publishing
series SAGE Open Nursing
issn 2377-9608
publishDate 2021-05-01
description Introduction Obesity in adolescence is a significant ongoing public health problem that has not improved over the past decade. Objective This descriptive qualitative study explores the perspective of female adolescents who are overweight or obese regarding their views on health and weight within the clinic setting. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with female adolescents (age 13–19 years old; BMI ≥85th percentile) from the mid-west region of the United States (N = 28). Inductive thematic analysis using Braun & Clarke’s methods was utilized. Results The findings from this study revealed that the adolescents’ view of health encompasses physical, mental, and psychosocial health dimensions, and despite being overweight and obese, the participants felt healthy. Participants discussed the need to eat healthier and increase their daily physical activity, but were unable to transform this into action. Within the clinical setting, the adolescents were sensitive to weight discussions. Conclusion Results from this study can increase providers’ understanding of the adolescent, increase awareness of adolescent sensitivity, and assist researchers in developing age-appropriate interventions for effective treatment and prevention of childhood obesity.
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211018523
work_keys_str_mv AT aprillyergesphdrncpn adolescentgirlswithoverweightandobesityfeelphysicallyhealthyandhighlighttheimportanceofmentalhealth
AT juliaasnethenphdrnfaan adolescentgirlswithoverweightandobesityfeelphysicallyhealthyandhighlighttheimportanceofmentalhealth
AT aaronlcarrelmd adolescentgirlswithoverweightandobesityfeelphysicallyhealthyandhighlighttheimportanceofmentalhealth
_version_ 1721422880004112384