Dataset Information

Insights from the ACTION Teens Study: a survey of adolescents living with obesity, their caregivers and healthcare professionals in the UK.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The Awareness, Care and Treatment In Obesity maNagement (ACTION) Teens study explored attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and barriers regarding effective obesity care among adolescents living with obesity (ALwO), caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Design

Cross-sectional online survey study.

Setting

Study across 10 countries; here, we report data from UK respondents.

Participants

Overall, 416 ALwO (aged 12 to <18 years; body mass index ≥95th percentile for age and sex (WHO charts)), 498 caregivers and 250 HCPs in the UK completed the survey (August-December 2021).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Survey questions addressed key aspects of obesity management for ALwO.

Results

Overall, 46% of ALwO perceived their weight as normal or below normal and 86% believed their health was at least good; 56% and 93% of caregivers responded similarly for their ALwO. Despite this, most ALwO (57%) had attempted to lose weight in the past year and 34% felt highly motivated to lose weight. YouTube and social media were most often used by ALwO for information about weight management (41% and 39%); few ALwO and caregivers sought information from a doctor (13% and 22%). Among ALwO who had discussed weight with an HCP (n=122), 49% trusted their weight-management advice. Only 10% of ALwO and 8% of caregivers were told by a doctor that they/their child had obesity. For HCPs, obesity-related comorbidities were the most common reason for initiating weight conversations with ALwO (73%), while short appointment times were the most common barrier (46%). Overall, 30% of ALwO and 11% of caregivers did not feel comfortable bringing up weight with an HCP.

Conclusions

Improved education and communication are needed among ALwO, caregivers and HCPs in the UK to help improve awareness of obesity, its aetiology and its impact on health, and to support HCPs to proactively initiate weight-related conversations and build trust with ALwO and caregivers.

Trial registration number

NCT05013359.

SUBMITTER: Halford JCG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11268073 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Insights from the ACTION Teens Study: a survey of adolescents living with obesity, their caregivers and healthcare professionals in the UK.

Halford Jason C G JCG Brown Adrian A Clare Kenneth K Ells Louisa J LJ Ghosh Anngona A Giri Dinesh D Hughes Carly C Senniappan Senthil S

BMJ open 20240723 7

<h4>Objectives</h4>The Awareness, Care and Treatment In Obesity maNagement (ACTION) Teens study explored attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and barriers regarding effective obesity care among adolescents living with obesity (ALwO), caregivers and healthcare professionals (HCPs).<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional online survey study.<h4>Setting</h4>Study across 10 countries; here, we report data from UK respondents.<h4>Participants</h4>Overall, 416 ALwO (aged 12 to <18 years; body mass index ≥95th pe ...[more]

PMID: 39043586

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Dataset Information

Insights from the ACTION Teens Study: a survey of adolescents living with obesity, their caregivers and healthcare professionals in the UK.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration number

Publications

Insights from the ACTION Teens Study: a survey of adolescents living with obesity, their caregivers and healthcare professionals in the UK.

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