Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study
Introduction. Given the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States, we aimed to investigate youth's understanding of obesity and to investigate gaps between their nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and perceived susceptibility to obesity and its co-morbidities. Methods. A mar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Obesity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/670295 |
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| author | Allison C. Sylvetsky Monique Hennink Dawn Comeau Jean A. Welsh Trisha Hardy Linda Matzigkeit Deanne W. Swan Stephanie M. Walsh Miriam B. Vos |
| author_facet | Allison C. Sylvetsky Monique Hennink Dawn Comeau Jean A. Welsh Trisha Hardy Linda Matzigkeit Deanne W. Swan Stephanie M. Walsh Miriam B. Vos |
| author_sort | Allison C. Sylvetsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. Given the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States, we aimed to investigate youth's understanding of obesity and to investigate gaps between their nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and perceived susceptibility to obesity and its co-morbidities. Methods. A marketing firm contracted by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facilitated a series of focus group discussions (FGD) to test potential concepts and sample ads for the development of an obesity awareness campaign. Data were collected in August and September of 2010 with both overweight and healthy weight 4th-5th grade and 7th-8th grade students. We conducted a secondary analysis of the qualitative FGD transcripts using inductive thematic coding to identify key themes related to youth reports of family eating habits (including food preparation, meal frequency, and eating environment), perceived facilitators and barriers of healthy diet, and knowledge about obesity and its complications. Results. Across focus group discussions, mixed attitudes about healthy eating, low perceived risk of being or becoming obese, and limited knowledge about the health consequences of obesity may contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity among youth in Georgia. Most youth were aware that obesity was a problem; yet most overweight youth felt that their weight was healthy and attributed overweight to genetics or slow metabolism. Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that urban youth in Georgia commonly recognize obesity as a problem, but there is less understanding of the link to lifestyle choices or the connection to future morbidities, suggesting a need for education to connect lifestyle behaviors to development of obesity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-31b6b42cd35f456087d1b3f24a8d3bd3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-0708 2090-0716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Obesity |
| spelling | doaj-art-31b6b42cd35f456087d1b3f24a8d3bd32025-02-03T07:25:29ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162013-01-01201310.1155/2013/670295670295Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group StudyAllison C. Sylvetsky0Monique Hennink1Dawn Comeau2Jean A. Welsh3Trisha Hardy4Linda Matzigkeit5Deanne W. Swan6Stephanie M. Walsh7Miriam B. Vos8Nutrition and Health Science Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Behavioral Science and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USADepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USAIntroduction. Given the high prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States, we aimed to investigate youth's understanding of obesity and to investigate gaps between their nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and perceived susceptibility to obesity and its co-morbidities. Methods. A marketing firm contracted by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facilitated a series of focus group discussions (FGD) to test potential concepts and sample ads for the development of an obesity awareness campaign. Data were collected in August and September of 2010 with both overweight and healthy weight 4th-5th grade and 7th-8th grade students. We conducted a secondary analysis of the qualitative FGD transcripts using inductive thematic coding to identify key themes related to youth reports of family eating habits (including food preparation, meal frequency, and eating environment), perceived facilitators and barriers of healthy diet, and knowledge about obesity and its complications. Results. Across focus group discussions, mixed attitudes about healthy eating, low perceived risk of being or becoming obese, and limited knowledge about the health consequences of obesity may contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity among youth in Georgia. Most youth were aware that obesity was a problem; yet most overweight youth felt that their weight was healthy and attributed overweight to genetics or slow metabolism. Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that urban youth in Georgia commonly recognize obesity as a problem, but there is less understanding of the link to lifestyle choices or the connection to future morbidities, suggesting a need for education to connect lifestyle behaviors to development of obesity.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/670295 |
| spellingShingle | Allison C. Sylvetsky Monique Hennink Dawn Comeau Jean A. Welsh Trisha Hardy Linda Matzigkeit Deanne W. Swan Stephanie M. Walsh Miriam B. Vos Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study Journal of Obesity |
| title | Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study |
| title_full | Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study |
| title_fullStr | Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study |
| title_short | Youth Understanding of Healthy Eating and Obesity: A Focus Group Study |
| title_sort | youth understanding of healthy eating and obesity a focus group study |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/670295 |
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