Family management of severe obesity in adolescents

Abstract Purpose Severe obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥120th percent of the 95th BMI percentile for age and sex, is the fastest growing subcategory of obesity among youth, yet little is known about how this group understands and incorporates weight management strategies. The aims of this study were to explore how parents and adolescents understand severe obesity and incorporate management into their daily lives and evaluate the applicability of the Family Management Styles Framework (FMSF) to better understand the impact of severe obesity for adolescents. Design and methods Directed content analysis grounded in a modified version of the FMSF was used to analyze one-time in-home face-to-face interviews with adolescents aged 12–17 years (N = 14) who received pediatric weight management care and a parent (N = 17). Results Both adolescents and parents described the day-to-day management as challenging and impactful to parent-child and sibling relationships. They described the need for sustained support and coaching in meeting daily physical activity requirements and related stories of weight stigma experienced. Further, parents' and adolescents' views were mostly congruent, except in their view of effectiveness of daily routines and how family attitudes and actions did or did not support the adolescent. Conclusions The FMSF was successfully applied to understand family management of adolescents with severe obesity. These adolescents have complex physical and psychological needs impacting effective weight management and family life. Practice implications Technology interventions should be considered to improve physiological and psychological outcomes for youth with severe obesity.