Overweight and obese adolescents: what turns them off physical activity?

Abstract

A systematic review of qualitative studies was undertaken to understand the barriers to physical activity experienced by adolescents who were overweight or obese. From a search of electronic databases and ‘grey’ literature, published between 1950 and 2009, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Bronfenbrenner’s model of human development provided an ecological lens for identifying and synthesising barriers to physical activity. Two reviewers appraised study quality. Miles and Huberman’s cross-case analysis was integrated with thematic networking to synthesize the individual, interpersonal and environmental level barriers for boys and girls of different ethnicities and socioeconomic status, across school settings and generalised context. Thirty-five barriers were identified, 13 of which occurred in physical activity situations in the school setting, 18 were not linked to a specific setting, and the remainder were common across both contexts. The fact that these barriers emerged from studies that focused on topics such as victimisation and mental health is particularly poignant and reflects the potentially pervasive influence of adolescent’s excessive weight not only in relation to physical activity situations but other aspects of their lives. Furthermore, socioeconomic status and ethnicity was poorly considered, with only one study linking these participant characteristics to quotations and discussing the potential implications. At present, there are few qualitative studies with sufficiently thick description or interpretive validity that provide insight into this vulnerable group of adolescents, and give them a voice to influence policy and practice.

Which Body Fat Anthropometric Indicators are Most Strongly Associated with Maximum Oxygen Uptake in Adolescents?

“…This fact is because overweight individuals are more likely to have difficulty moving around, resulting in greater economy of movement, increased energy expenditure and early fatigue in aerobic activities, reducing performance in physical tests (32). In addition, a systematic review showed that overweight adolescents tend to impose barriers to physical activity that involves individual factors such as shame of their body, interpersonal factors related to the prejudice they suffer due to excess weight, environmental factors such as lack of security in neighborhoods for physical activity, among others (33). Boys with higher CI values of this study showed lower power for health-related problems compared with other indicators (35).…”

Exploring Perceptions of Barriers, Facilitators, and Motivators to Physical Activity Among Female Bariatric Patients

“…As predicted, obese women walked slower at selfselected speeds, had a higher oxygen consumption, and reported greater perceived exhaustion Borg scale ratings compared to normal weight women (Mattsson et al 1997). Ultimately, discomfort and fatigue resulting from PA exceeding individual physical capacity diminishes energy reserves to complete other daily non-PA related tasks and discourages future bouts of PA among obese individuals (Stankov et al 2012). …”

Physical Activity and School-Age Individuals With Visual Impairments: A Literature Review

“…The ecological model can serve to identify physical-activityparticipation barriers across multiple systems. For example, in a recent literature review by Stankov, Olds, and Cargo (2012), 19 personal, 6 interpersonal, and 10 environmental-level participation barriers were identified for overweight and obese adolescents. Physical activity interventions incorporating the ecological model would take into consideration multiple systems that have the potential to significantly alter physical activity levels of individuals across environments.…”