Treatment programs in overweight and obese children: How to achieve lifestyle changes?

Long-term effects of adolescent obesity: time to act

Obesity in adolescence will probably have major implications not only for the affected adolescents but also for society. Those who have obesity during adolescence usually have obesity into adulthood, which causes many medical and psychological issues that can result in premature death. Furthermore, obesity in adolescents is associated with a range of social problems, including difficulties securing an apprenticeship or a job or finding a partner. Adolescents with obesity are also at increased risk of having children with obesity later in life. All these consequences lead to high costs for the health-care system. Although efficient treatment options are available that have been proven in randomized controlled trials, such as lifestyle interventions for adolescents with obesity and bariatric surgery for adolescents with severe obesity, these interventions frequently fail in clinical practice as treatment adherence is low in adolescents and most adolescents with obesity do not seek medical care. Therefore, improving treatment adherence and identifying treatment barriers are necessary.

Cognitive computing and eScience in health and life science research: artificial intelligence and obesity intervention programs

Objective

To present research models based on artificial intelligence and discuss the concept of cognitive computing and eScience as disruptive factors in health and life science research methodologies.

Methods

The paper identifies big data as a catalyst to innovation and the development of artificial intelligence, presents a framework for computer-supported human problem solving and describes a transformation of research support models. This framework includes traditional computer support; federated cognition using machine learning and cognitive agents to augment human intelligence; and a semi-autonomous/autonomous cognitive model, based on deep machine learning, which supports eScience.

Results

The paper provides a forward view of the impact of artificial intelligence on our human-computer support and research methods in health and life science research.

Conclusions

By augmenting or amplifying human task performance with artificial intelligence, cognitive computing and eScience research models are discussed as novel and innovative systems for developing more effective adaptive obesity intervention programs.

Facilitators and Barriers to the Achievement of Healthy Lifestyle Goals: Qualitative Findings From Australian Parents Enrolled in the PEACH Child Weight Management Program

OBJECTIVES

To describe the qualitative research methods used in the Parenting Eating and Activity for Child Health (PEACH) randomized controlled trial and to examine parent-reported facilitators and barriers to the achievement of program goals.

DESIGN

Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

SETTING

Parents enrolled in the Australian PEACH randomized controlled trial, a family-focused child weight management program conducted blinded for review.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 95 parents of overweight children aged 5-10 years participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews.

PHENOMENON OF INTEREST

Factors external to the PEACH intervention that facilitated or inhibited their success.

ANALYSIS

Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.

RESULTS

Three facilitator themes were identified: (1) internal locus of parental control, (2) external locus of parental control, and (3) child factors. Six barrier themes were identified: (1) internal locus of parental control, (2) external locus of parental control, and (3) child factors; (4) maintenance and managing special occasions; (5) time management challenges; and (6) inconsistencies or lack of support.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The social and environmental barriers and time pressures identified by parents are a common feature of Western family life such that many parents are raising families in stressful situations. Insights provided by this qualitative research provide an important understanding of these experiences. Consideration of such issues in the design and implementation of future child weight management interventions may help to increase the acceptability and effectiveness of such programs.