Top

Published in:

01-04-2011 | Original Article

Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among obese adolescents: a qualitative study from Iran

Authors: Parisa Amiri, Fazlollah Ghofranipour, Fazlollah Ahmadi, Farhad Hosseinpanah, Ali Montazeri, Sara Jalali-Farahani, Ali Rastegarpour

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2011

Abstract

Purpose

Existing data show a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents. The current study investigates adolescents’ perceptions regarding overweight/obesity and explores barriers to a healthy life style among Iranian adolescents.

Methods

A grounded theory approach was used for analyzing the participants’ experiences, and their perceptions. To collect data, semi-structured focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with 51 adolescents (27 girls and 24 boys), aged 15–17 years, who were either overweight or obese. Qualitative content analysis of the data was conducted manually and differences in coding were resolved via discussion by four independent reviewers.

Results

Two main barriers, personal and environmental emerged from data analysis. Positive perception of condition, priority of studying, lack of willingness, unsatisfactory results, low self-esteem, and perceived lack of control were the major personal barriers while lack of family and cultural support, inadequate education and scarcity of resources were the common environmental barriers to adolescents’ healthy lifestyles.

Conclusions

Findings demonstrated the main personal and environmental barriers for a healthy life style as perceived by adolescents. Understanding these barriers might contribute to existing literature by providing evidence from a different culture, and help to design effective preventive strategies, and implement appropriate interventions.

Alm M, Soroudi N, Wylie-Rosett J, Isasi CR, Suchday S, Rieder J, Khan U (2008) A qualitative assessment of barriers and facilitators to achieving behavior goals among obese inner-city adolescents in a weight management program. Diabetes Educ 34:277–284PubMedCrossRef

Anavian J, Brenner DJ, Fort P, Speiser PW (2001) Profiles of obese children presenting for metabolic evaluation. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 14:1145–1150PubMed

Baranowski T (2006) Crisis and chaos in behavioral nutrition and physical activity. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 3:27PubMedCrossRef

Baranowski T, Cullen KW, Nicklas T, Thompson D, Baranowski J (2002) School-based obesity prevention: a blueprint for taming the epidemic. Am J Health Behav 26:486–493PubMed

Chen MY, Chou CC, Hsu CY (2005) The experiences of overweight female adolescents after health promotion counseling. J Nurs Res 13:41–48PubMed

Dietz WH (1998) Health consequences of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of adult disease. Pediatrics 101:518–525PubMed

Dietz WH, Gortmaker SL (2001) Preventing obesity in children and adolescents. Annu Rev Public Health 22:337–353PubMedCrossRef

Eisenmann JC, Bartee RT, Smith DT, Welk GJ, Fu Q (2008) Combined influence of physical activity and television viewing on the risk of overweight in US youth. Int J Obes (Lond) 32:613–618CrossRef

Farooqi IS, O’Rahilly S (2000) Recent advances in the genetics of severe childhood obesity. Arch Dis Child 83:31–34PubMedCrossRef

Flodmark CE, Marcus C, Britton M (2006) Interventions to prevent obesity in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review. Int J Obes 30:579–589CrossRef

Foreyt JP, Goodrick GK (1994) Impact on behavior therapy on weight loss. Am J Health Promot 8:466–468PubMed

Galvez MP, Hong L, Choi E, Liao L, Godbold J, Brenner B (2009) Childhood obesity and neighborhood food-store availability in an inner-city community. Acad Pediatr 9(5):339–343PubMedCrossRef

Grignard S, Bourguignon JP, Born M, Mairiaux P, Vandoorne C (2003) Characteristics of adolescent attempts to manage overweight. Patient Educ Couns 51:183–189PubMedCrossRef

Juliet C, Anselm S (2007) Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory, 5 edn

Kelishadi R (2007) Childhood overweight, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome in developing countries. Epidemiol Rev 29:62–76PubMedCrossRef

Kelishadi R, Gouya MM, Ardalan G, Hosseini M, Motaghian M, Delavari A, Majdzadeh R, Heidarzadeh A, Mahmoud-Arabi MS, Riazi MM (2007) First reference curves of waist and hip circumferences in an Asian population of youths: CASPIAN study. J Trop Pediatr 53:158–164PubMedCrossRef

Kelishadi R, Alikhani S, Delavari A, Alaedini F, Safaie A, Hojatzadeh E (2008) Obesity and associated lifestyle behaviours in Iran: findings from the First National Non-communicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Public Health Nutr 11:246–251PubMedCrossRef

Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Grummer-Strawn LM, Flegal KM, Guo SS, Wei R, Mei Z, Curtin LR, Roche AF, Johnson CL (2000) CDC growth charts: United States. Adv Data, pp 1–27

Lobstein T, Baur L, Uauy R (2004) Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health. Obes Rev 5(Suppl 1):4–104PubMedCrossRef

Locke EA, Latham GP (2002) Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. A 35-year odyssey. Am Psychol 57:705–717PubMedCrossRef

Moayeri H, Bidad K, Aghamohammadi A, Rabbani A, Anari S, Nazemi L, Gholami N, Zadhoush S, Hatmi ZN (2006) Overweight and obesity and their associated factors in adolescents in Tehran, Iran, 2004–2005. Eur J Pediatr 165:489–493PubMedCrossRef

Mohammadpour-Ahranjani B, Rashidi A, Karandish M, Eshraghian MR, Kalantari N (2004) Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescent Tehrani students, 2000–2001: an epidemic health problem. Public Health Nutr 7:645–648PubMedCrossRef

Rashidi A, Mohammadpour-Ahranjani B, Vafa MR, Karandish M (2005) Prevalence of obesity in Iran. Obes Rev 6:191–192PubMedCrossRef

Roach JB, Yadrick MK, Johnson JT, Boudreaux LJ, Forsythe WA 3rd, Billon W (2003) Using self-efficacy to predict weight loss among young adults. J Am Diet Assoc 103:1357–1359PubMedCrossRef

Rosenbloom AL (2002) Increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents: treatment considerations. Paediatr Drugs 4:209–221PubMed

Sallis JF, Prochaska JJ, Taylor WC, Hill JO, Geraci JC (1999) Correlates of physical activity in a national sample of girls and boys in grades 4 through 12. Health Psychol 18:410–415PubMedCrossRef

Sallis JF, Prochaska JJ, Taylor WC (2000) A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32:963–975PubMedCrossRef

Sinha R, Fisch G, Teague B, Tamborlane WV, Banyas B, Allen K, Savoye M, Rieger V, Taksali S, Barbetta G, Sherwin RS, Caprio S (2002) Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among children and adolescents with marked obesity. N Engl J Med 346:802–810PubMedCrossRef

Smalley SE, Wittler RR, Oliverson RH (2004) Adolescent assessment of cardiovascular heart disease risk factor attitudes and habits. J Adolesc Health 35:374–379PubMed

Steptoe A, Wardle J (2001) Locus of control and health behaviour revisited: a multivariate analysis of young adults from 18 countries. Br J Psychol 92:659–672PubMedCrossRef

Story MT, Neumark-Stzainer DR, Sherwood NE, Holt K, Sofka D, Trowbridge FL, Barlow SE (2002) Management of child and adolescent obesity: attitudes, barriers, skills, and training needs among health care professionals. Pediatrics 110:210–214PubMed

Styne DM (2001) Childhood and adolescent obesity. Prevalence and significance. Pediatr Clin North Am 48:823–854 viiPubMedCrossRef

Thompson VJ, Baranowski T, Cullen KW, Rittenberry L, Baranowski J, Taylor WC, Nicklas T (2003) Influences on diet and physical activity among middle-class African American 8- to 10-year-old girls at risk of becoming obese. J Nutr Educ Behav 35:115–123PubMedCrossRef

Vilhjalmsson R, Thorlindsson T (1998) Factors related to physical activity: a study of adolescents. Soc Sci Med 47:665–675PubMedCrossRef

Wadden TA, Womble LG, Sarwer DB, Berkowitz RI, Clark VL, Foster GD (2003) Great expectations: “I’m losing 25% of my weight no matter what you say”. J Consult Clin Psychol 71:1084–1089PubMedCrossRef

Walker Z, Townsend J, Oakley L, Donovan C, Smith H, Hurst Z, Bell J, Marshall S (2002) Health promotion for adolescents in primary care: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 325:524PubMedCrossRef

Title: Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among obese adolescents: a qualitative study from Iran
Authors: Parisa Amiri
Fazlollah Ghofranipour
Fazlollah Ahmadi
Farhad Hosseinpanah
Ali Montazeri
Sara Jalali-Farahani
Ali Rastegarpour
Publication date: 01-04-2011
Publisher: SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-010-0119-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among obese adolescents: a qualitative study from Iran

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2011

Perceived barriers to the development of modern public health in Bulgaria: a qualitative study

Hypertension and risk of death from external causes in the Physicians’ Health Study enrollment cohort

Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections among persons living with HIV

Perceived factors related to cigarette and waterpipe (ghelyan) initiation and maintenance in university students of Iran

Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe study: dietary patterns and their association with socio-demographic factors in the Lithuanian urban population of Kaunas city

Health literacy in a population of primary health-care patients in Belgrade, Serbia