Paper
Monday, November 14, 2005
A Grounded Theory Study: Adolescent Expectations of Weight Loss and Weight Loss Interventions
Wilma Powell Stuart, MA, RN1, Marti Rice, RN, PhD1, Barbara Habermann, RN, PhD1, Marion E. Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN2, Susan Davies, PhD3, and Barbara Gower, PhD4. (1) School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, (2) School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA, (3) Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA, (4) Nutrition Sciences Physiology & Metabolism, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Identify factors that influence perceptions of weight and weight loss management of the overweight Latino adolescent
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| Learning Objective #2: Identify the theory for weight loss interventions developed from the perceptions of the overweight Latino adolescent
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Purpose: An estimated 15% of adolescents are reported to be overweight, a number that has tripled in the past two decades. Twenty seven percent of Latino male adolescents are overweight and 19.4% of Latino female adolescents are overweight. A variety of weight management interventions have been tested without noticeable results and apparently not affecting the increasing numbers of overweight adolescents. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to identify the factors that influence the Latino adolescents' perception of weight and weight management and to develop a theory from the perceptions of Latino overweight adolescents' to be tested in future interventions. A grounded theory approach was selected because of the lack of a clear understanding of the influences on the responses of the overweight adolescents as they may relate to weight and weight loss interventions and the importance of gaining a better understanding of the uniqueness of the overweight adolescent.
Method: The methodology for this study design is grounded theory, an inductive qualitative research method. Grounded theory is rooted in social interactionism. The data collected are used to identify common concepts, processes, and hypotheses relating to weight management by overweight adolescents.
Findings: Overweight Latino adolescents, 16 and 17 years of age, were recruited in West Texas. A focus group of Latino overweight adolescents ages 16 and 17 evaluated the questions for cultural appropriateness. Subsequently, two one-hour tape-recorded interviews were conducted with thirty participants. Demographic data,in addition to recorded interviews, were collected for all participants. Analysis of the data are in progress.
Discussion: The results will identify gaps between the perception or understanding of the overweight adolescent and the goals and aims of intervention weight loss programs. The processes and hypotheses identified through this grounded theory study can subsequently be tested with nursing interventions to facilitate adolescent weight loss.