‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity
Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with cardiometabolic and psychosocial comorbidity, weight stigma, and premature adult mortality. Physical activity provides many health benefits for adolescents with obesity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore what experiences adolescents who...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Physical Activity and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/273 |
| _version_ | 1797655969016053760 |
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| author | Agnes Klemedtson Anne Börjesson Krister Hertting Lars Kristén Lovisa Sjögren |
| author_facet | Agnes Klemedtson Anne Börjesson Krister Hertting Lars Kristén Lovisa Sjögren |
| author_sort | Agnes Klemedtson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with cardiometabolic and psychosocial comorbidity, weight stigma, and premature adult mortality. Physical activity provides many health benefits for adolescents with obesity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore what experiences adolescents who have or have had obesity between 13–18 years of age have from long-term participation in regular physical activity in a lifestyle intervention. Method: Semi-structured interviews were performed with nine adolescents (five girls, four boys) ages 13–18 years who had been participating in physical activity in a regular way in this intervention. They had been participating for one to six years (average 2.8 years). Qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Result: The adolescent’s experiences of regular physical activity in this intervention was divided into three categories: 1) to experience the joy of movement; 2) to experience influence of the group; 3) to experience personal development. An inclusive and accepting group increased positive feelings of participation and they experienced that they achieved weight loss, improved self-esteem, and generally felt better when they started to be physically active. Conclusion: When adolescents who have or have had obesity are given the proper circumstances for physical activity, they experience it as fun and self-developing. It is important for adolescents to be allowed to be with friends with similar experiences and be among individuals they feel comfortable with and connected to. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:22:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-336cf4b7f69e4e80bfac5b22afdcfa8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-2270 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:22:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Activity and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-336cf4b7f69e4e80bfac5b22afdcfa8a2023-10-19T08:12:42ZengUbiquity PressPhysical Activity and Health2515-22702023-09-0171270–280270–28010.5334/paah.273273‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had ObesityAgnes Klemedtson0Anne Börjesson1Krister Hertting2Lars Kristén3Lovisa Sjögren4School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, HalmstadMunicipality of KungsbackaSchool of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, HalmstadSchool of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, HalmstadDepartment of Paediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg; Department of Paediatrics, Hallands Hospital Halmstad, HalmstadIntroduction: Childhood obesity is associated with cardiometabolic and psychosocial comorbidity, weight stigma, and premature adult mortality. Physical activity provides many health benefits for adolescents with obesity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore what experiences adolescents who have or have had obesity between 13–18 years of age have from long-term participation in regular physical activity in a lifestyle intervention. Method: Semi-structured interviews were performed with nine adolescents (five girls, four boys) ages 13–18 years who had been participating in physical activity in a regular way in this intervention. They had been participating for one to six years (average 2.8 years). Qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach was used to analyse the data. Result: The adolescent’s experiences of regular physical activity in this intervention was divided into three categories: 1) to experience the joy of movement; 2) to experience influence of the group; 3) to experience personal development. An inclusive and accepting group increased positive feelings of participation and they experienced that they achieved weight loss, improved self-esteem, and generally felt better when they started to be physically active. Conclusion: When adolescents who have or have had obesity are given the proper circumstances for physical activity, they experience it as fun and self-developing. It is important for adolescents to be allowed to be with friends with similar experiences and be among individuals they feel comfortable with and connected to.https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/273adolescent obesityphysical activityhealthmotivationsport |
| spellingShingle | Agnes Klemedtson Anne Börjesson Krister Hertting Lars Kristén Lovisa Sjögren ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity Physical Activity and Health adolescent obesity physical activity health motivation sport |
| title | ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity |
| title_full | ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity |
| title_fullStr | ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity |
| title_short | ‘I Think It’s Cool That You Can Go from Thinking That Exercising Is No Fun at All to Actually Kind of Loving It.’: Experiences of Long-Term Regular Participation in Physical Activity in Adolescents Who Have or Have Had Obesity |
| title_sort | i think it s cool that you can go from thinking that exercising is no fun at all to actually kind of loving it experiences of long term regular participation in physical activity in adolescents who have or have had obesity |
| topic | adolescent obesity physical activity health motivation sport |
| url | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/273 |
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