Perceptions and Practices Related to Obesity in Adolescent Students and Their Programmatic Implications: Qualitative Evi
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Perceptions and Practices Related to Obesity in Adolescent Students and Their Programmatic Implications: Qualitative Evidence from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Ngoc‑Minh Nguyen1 · Michael J. Dibley2 · Hong K. Tang1 · Ashraful Alam2
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2017
Abstract Background Prevalence of obesity in children in Ho Chi Minh City is rising in the last 10 years. We conducted a formative study to explore the perceptions and practices related to obesity, diet and physical activity among the students in two junior high schools in two suburbs in Ho Chi Minh City to aid in the design of an intervention in preventing obesity among adolescent school children. Method We conducted in-depth interviews with twenty participants including students, their parents, physical education teachers and a representative of the Department of Education. Manually coded and organized data were analysed applying a thematic analysis approach to divulge trends, diversities and similarities among the emerging themes. Results The study revealed diversified perceptions of obesity, diet and physical activity and their relationship with adolescent obesity. The findings indicated low practice of physical activity among almost all students who participated in the study. The major barriers to obesity prevention included knowledge gaps, food environment in the school, devaluation of physical activity and academic burden. Conclusion The findings provide contextual * Ashraful Alam [email protected] Ngoc‑Minh Nguyen [email protected] Michael J. Dibley [email protected] Hong K. Tang [email protected] 1
Department of Epidemiology, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2
Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
insights to design a culturally appropriate and feasible intervention to tackle child and adolescent obesity by harnessing the perspectives of the target populations. Keywords Adolescent obesity · Perceptions · Physical activity · Qualitative method · Vietnam Abbreviations HCMC Ho Chi Minh City PA Physical activity PE Physical education TV Television
Significance Despite increasing prevalence of obesity in urban settings in Vietnam, little research has been conducted to design efficient intervention to tackle this important public health problem. Our study generated valuable in-depth insight through the application of qualitative methods that will help develop efficient and culturally appropriate interventions. Our findings have relevance to identifying target populations and intervention delivery strategies.
Background Obesity is strongly linked with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and general mortality (Keith et al. 2013; Kodama et al. 2014; Park et al. 2013; Strazzullo et al. 2010; Freemantle et al. 2008). Recent systematic reviews found that childhood obesity also increased the risk of metabolic diseases and non-communicable diseases later in life (Lloyd et al. 2012, 2010; Adami and Vasconcelos 2008). Although
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