[Practical implementation of treatment guidelines concerning obesity in children and adolescents]

Media Use and Physical Activity Behaviour of Adolescent Participants in Obesity Therapy: Impact Analysis of Selected Socio-Demographic Factors

BACKGROUND

To address the challenge of juvenile obesity, effective therapeutic concepts focusing on lifestyle changes are necessary. A relevant aspect is the media use, which is associated with nutrition and physical activity patterns and is influenced by socio-demographic factors. To optimise obesity therapy, the use of media depending on these socio-demographic factors needs to be analysed to adjust the aims, content and methods of interventions as well as to harness the potential of media use in obesity therapy. The question considered in this research is: What media and physical activity patterns show 11- to 17-year-old obesity therapy participants in dependence on socio-demographic factors?

METHODS

A national multicentre study was conducted in 2015. A questionnaire was used to survey 432 participants' aged 13.75 ± 1.4 years. Standardised instruments were used to assess the variables: physical activity, media use and socio-demographic factors.

RESULTS

The participants were 1-hour physically active for 3.9 ± 1.9 days/week, 14.1% daily. Televisions, mobile phones and computers were available in all socio-demographic groups and used for 2 h/day. Socio-demographic differences emerged in the duration of media use (h/day). Girls were found to use mobile phones for longer (2.49 vs. 1.90; p < 0.01) and spend less time on game consoles than boys (0.55 vs. 1.65; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Compared to current recommendations, the sample shows reduced physical activity and increased media use, which vary between the groups. Hence, differentiated therapy approaches appear recommendable. Future research needs to evaluate, how media (despite its risks) can facilitate therapy, training and aftercare concepts.

[Media use and physical activity patterns of adolescent participants in obesity therapy: Analysis of the impact of selected sociodemographic factors]

To meet the challenge of obesity, effective therapeutic concepts for adolescents focusing on lifestyle changes are necessary. Particularly relevant are nutrition and physical activity patterns associated with media use, which can be influenced by sociodemographic factors. For the optimization of obesity therapy approaches, it is essential to analyze these sociodemographic factors to adjust the aims, content, and methods of interventions, and to use the potential of media in treatment concepts. Thus, the research question is: what are the media and physical activity patterns of 11- to 17-year-old participants in obesity therapy, depending on sociodemographic factors? The national multicenter study was conducted from 2012 to 2013. A questionnaire was administered to 564 participants aged 13.4 ± 1.6 (mean ± standard deviation) years. Standardized instruments were used to assess the variables physical activity, media use, and sociodemographic factors. Participants were physically active for 1 h on 3.3 ± 1.8 days per week, 8.5 % daily. Televisions, mobile phones, and computers were available in all sociodemographic groups and were used for 2 h per day. Sociodemographic differences can be seen in the extent of media usage (h/day). These differences can be found between girls and boys concerning their usage of mobile phones (2.49 vs. 1.90; p  < 0.001), between 11- to 13- and 14- to 17-year-old children concerning their usage of game consoles (0.55 vs. 1.65; p  = 0.007), and in the correlation analysis of media usage and physical activity. Compared with existing literature, the survey results reveal reduced activity and increased media use, which vary among the groups. Thus, differentiated therapy approaches appear to be reasonable. Future research needs to evaluate to what extent media, despite the risks, can contribute to the methodological support of therapy, training, and aftercare concepts.

'Children are exposed to temptation all the time'- parents' lifestyle-related discussions in focus groups

AIM

To explore parents' perspectives on providing their preschool child with a healthy lifestyle, including obstacles and resources.

METHODS

Five semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted, with 30 parents of 4-year-olds in Sweden. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Systematic Text Condensation.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: Lifestyle -'The way you live is parents' responsibility', Challenges to promote children's healthy lifestyle, Support from professionals, and peers might facilitate, and Request for an overall responsibility from society. Parents felt that they were role models for their child's lifestyle, a concept including many factors. Attractive and tempting sedentary activities and unhealthy foods were perceived as obstacles, and parents were frustrated by the media's contradictory lifestyle messages. Child health services were expected to more actively invite parents to discuss their child's lifestyle issues. Parents desired some collective responsibility for children's lifestyles through agencies, services and media messages that support and promote healthy choices.

CONCLUSION

Parents struggled to give their children a healthy lifestyle and the 'temptations' of daily unhealthy choices causing hassles and conflicts. Parents desired professional support from preschool, Child Health Care and a collective responsibility from society with uniform guidelines. Parents groups were mentioned as peer support.