Adolescents' Experiences of Participating in a Weight-loss Programme, Linked to Weight Status, Health-related Quality of Life and Self-concept: A longitudinal Study

Purpose: To ŝnvĞƐƟŐĂƚĞ the link between adolescents’
experiences of ƉĂrƟcŝƉĂƟnŐ in a weight-loss programme and
their weight status, Health-Related Quality of Life and selfconcept
over 5 years.
Design and Method: A qƵĂůŝƚĂƟvĞ study with a ŚĞrmĞnĞƵƟc
approach, focused on ŝnƚĞrƉrĞƟnŐ adolescents’ experiences.
Interviews of 10 adolescents in a weight-loss programme,
and their parents, three ƟmĞƐ over 5 years. The interview
ĮnĚŝnŐƐ were supported by BMI-SDS (Body Mass Index
standard ĚĞvŝĂƟŽn scores) and qƵĞƐƟŽnnĂŝrĞƐ͗ HealthRelated
Quality of Life (HRQOL), and self-concept (Beck
Youth Inventories, BSCI-Y).
Results: Immediately ĂŌĞr cŽmƉůĞƟŽn of the weight-loss
programme, the 10 adolescents had all lost weight and
experienced other ĞīĞcƚƐ͕ e.g. more energy, making friends
and discovering cŽmmŽnĂůŝƟĞƐ͕ along with improved
physical parameters, experienced HRQOL and self-concept.
However, weight loss was ĚŝĸcƵůƚ to maintain ĂŌĞr
cŽmƉůĞƟŽn͘ Some adolescents who had regained weight 1
year ĂŌĞr cŽmƉůĞƟŽn reported lower perceived HRQOL and
self-concept and also ůĞŌ the study.
Conclusion: Weight loss can be achieved during a treatment
programme for overweight adolescents, bringing lower BMI
and also ƉŽƚĞnƟĂů psycho-social bĞnĞĮƚƐ͘ Focus on weight
loss alone may involve overlooking other ƉŽƐŝƟvĞ ƐŝĚĞͲ
ĞīĞcƚƐ of the treatment. There are also overlooked nĞŐĂƟvĞ
ĞīĞcƚƐ͗ Not all ƉĂrƟcŝƉĂnƚƐ maintained weight loss, and for
regainers, some HRQOL and self-concept scores
deteriorated, compared to their ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽn pre-programme.
These nĞŐĂƟvĞ ĞīĞcƚƐ are not described in other studies.
WƌĂcƟcĞ /mƉůŝcĂƟŽnƐ͗ We encourage enhanced professional
support for drop-outs and regainers, and we recommend
ongoing, open-ended programmes to bĞƩĞr retain and
support adolescents and their families. Our ĮnĚŝnŐƐ indicate
this would improve ŝnƚĞrvĞnƟŽn outcomes for the ĞnƟrĞ
group.