scholarly journals Young Adults, Technology, and Weight Loss: A Focus Group Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna Stephens ◽  
Gyasi Moscou-Jackson ◽  
Jerilyn K. Allen

Overweight and obesity are a major concern in young adults. Technology has been integrated into many weight loss interventions; however little is known about the use of this technology in young adults. The purpose of this study was to explore through focus group sessions the opinions of young adults on the use of technology for weight loss. A total of 17 young adults, between 18 and 25 years of age, participated in three focus group sessions. Major results indicated that young adults have very little knowledge on the use of Smartphone technology for weight loss but would like to use this type of technology to help them lose weight. Results also indicated that young adults struggle to make healthy food choices and have priorities that outweigh exercise and they need support and guidance to make better decisions. In conclusion, young adults would be open to using Smartphone technology for weight loss but also need feedback and guidance to help make healthy decisions.

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy L. Bennett ◽  
Kimberly A. Gudzune ◽  
Lawrence J. Appel ◽  
Jeanne M. Clark

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210014
Author(s):  
Anabelle Bernard Fournier ◽  
Karyn Fulcher ◽  
Leah Shumka ◽  
Nathan J. Lachowsky

Introduction: COVID-19 has had a profound effect on every aspect of contemporary life, including sexuality. Physical distancing measures and limitations on large gatherings explicitly restrict in-person group sex events. We sought to understand how the pandemic and associated public health control measures have affected group sex practitioners and activities. Methods: We used a community-based participatory research approach. In fall 2019, we recruited a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of group sex key informants via community agencies, social media, and relevant websites (e.g., FetLife, Squirt). To be eligible, participants had to be at least 18 years old and have recently participated in a local group sex event (i.e. sex, broadly defined, with more than 3 people). Ethics approval was secured for the CAB as a longitudinal focus group study. Focus group meetings were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. In December 2019, participants were asked about definitions of group sex. In May 2020, participants were asked about COVID-19 impacts. Results: Key informants shared that due to COVID-19 restrictions, group sex events were cancelled and participants only had sex with others they were isolating with. Participants emphasized the challenges of isolation, the need to be patient, but also the opportunities associated with isolation. Participants reported attending online group sex events (e.g. Zoom orgies) as well as skill-building classes (e.g. rope bondage). Participants anticipated in-person events in the future, but felt that moving online opened up new opportunities for community-building. Conclusions: Participants adhered to physical distancing protocols and quickly adapted to social isolation through innovative use of technology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 649-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Victorson ◽  
Sofia F. Garcia ◽  
Stacy Sanford ◽  
Mallory A. Snyder ◽  
Sara Lampert ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Hinke M. van der Werf ◽  
Wolter Paans ◽  
Geertjan Emmens ◽  
Anneke L. Francke ◽  
Petrie F. Roodbol ◽  
...  

There is a lack of service provision for young adult caregivers (18–25 years of age). This study aims to describe the expectations and prospects of young adult caregivers regarding support from health and education professionals. A qualitative focus group design was used. Twenty-five young Dutch adults (aged 18–25 years) who were growing up with a chronically ill family member participated in one of seven focus groups. Qualitative inductive analysis was used to identify codes and main themes. Two overarching themes with five sub-themes emerged from the focus group discussions. The overarching themes are: the ‘process of approaching young adults’ and the ‘types of support these young adults require’. The process of approaching young adults contains the sub-themes: ‘recognition, attention, and listening’, ‘open-minded attitude’, ‘reliability’, and ‘respecting autonomy’. The types of support this group requires contains the sub-themes: ‘information and emotional support’. Health and education professionals should first and foremost be aware and listen to young adult caregivers, pay attention to them, have an open-minded attitude, respect their autonomy, and have the knowledge to provide them with information and emotional support. Further research could yield comprehensive insights into how professionals can meet these requirements and whether these results apply to male young adult caregivers and young adult caregivers not enrolled in a healthcare-related study program.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janna D. Stephens ◽  
Andrew Althouse ◽  
Alai Tan ◽  
Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk

Overweight and obesity are a massive public health problem and young adults are at high risk for gaining weight once they enter a college. This study sought to examine gender and race as they relate to nutrition habits and self-efficacy in a population of diverse young adults from the Young Adult Weight Loss Study. Participants(N=62)were 29% males, 38.7% white, 33.8% Asian, and 12.9% African American. Males had lower self-efficacy for healthy eating (mean score = 92.5, SD = 17.1) compared to females (mean = 102.3, SD = 13.7,p=0.02). Males had higher consumption of sodium compared to females (4308 versus 3239 milligrams/day,p=0.01). There were no significant differences across racial subgroups in self-efficacy for healthy eating (p=0.67) or self-efficacy for exercise (p=0.61). Higher self-efficacy scores for healthy eating were significantly associated with less total sodium (r=-0.37,p=0.007), greater fruit consumption, and less saturated fat. Our results indicate that weight loss interventions should be individualized and that there may be specific areas to target that are different for men and women. Additional larger studies should be conducted to confirm if racial differences exist across nutrition habits and self-efficacy and to confirm gender differences noted in this study.


2014 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorien Simons ◽  
Peter Clarys ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Bas de Geus ◽  
Corneel Vandelanotte ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 713-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching Hsiu Hsieh ◽  
Tsann-Juu Su ◽  
Yu-Wen Fang ◽  
Pei-Hsuan Chou

The current study was designed to test the efficacy of different materials used in an auricular acupressure program on weight reduction, changes to waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study used a randomized design with two groups who were treated with auricular acupressure using Semen Vaccariae or the Japanese Magnetic Pearl. Both groups consisted of Asian young adults with a waist circumference ≥ 80 cm in the females and ≥ 90 cm in the males. At completion of the eight-week treatment period, the total sample size was 56 young adults who ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old. Each participant was met with weekly for ten-minute sessions during which ear acupressure treatment was performed. Sessions continued for eight weeks wherein both groups received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl or Semen Vaccariae on the ear acupoints. While both groups showed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) to body weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatments, the group treated with Semen Vaccariae group showed a more effective weight loss over the short term. Given that auricular acupressure is a safe and cost-effective treatment for weight loss, our results suggest that auricular acupressure is a reasonable option for the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults.


10.2196/15441 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. e15441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linnea I Laestadius ◽  
Kendall E Penndorf ◽  
Melissa Seidl ◽  
Young I Cho

Background While marketing for electronic cigarette refill liquids (e-liquids) is widespread on Instagram, little is known about the post elements that create appeal among young adult Instagram users. Further information is needed to help shape regulatory strategies appropriate for social media. Objective This study examined young adult Instagram user perceptions of actual e-liquid marketing posts and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–mandated nicotine addiction warning statements on Instagram. Methods A series of 12 focus groups (n=69) were held with non–tobacco users, vapers, smokers, and dual users in Wisconsin between September and December 2018. Participants discussed the elements of posts that they found appealing or unappealing, in addition to completing a survey about each post and e-liquid. Focus group transcripts were analyzed by smoking status using a framework analysis approach. Results Although willingness to try e-liquids was highest among nicotine users, focus group discussions indicated that Instagram posts promoting e-liquids held appeal for individuals across smoking statuses. The primary elements that created appeal were the perceived trustworthiness of the Instagram account, attractive design and flavor visuals, and promotion of flavors and nicotine levels that met personal preferences. Post appeal was reduced by references to vaping subcultures, indicators that the post creator did not take nicotine addiction seriously, and FDA-mandated nicotine warning statements. Non–tobacco users were particularly drawn to posts featuring nicotine-free e-liquids with attractive visual designs and flavors known from foods. Conclusions Young adults consider a broad range of elements in assessing the appeal of e-liquid marketing on Instagram, with minor but notable distinctions by smoking status. Non–tobacco users are uniquely drawn to nicotine-free e-liquids and are more deterred by the FDA’s mandated nicotine addiction warning statements than those from other smoking statuses. This suggests that it may be possible to tailor policy interventions in a manner that helps to reduce novel uptake of vaping without significantly diminishing its potential harm-reduction benefits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. AB042-AB042
Author(s):  
Valeria Flores-Cadena ◽  
Kayla Samimi ◽  
Ally Koh ◽  
Peninah Tumuhimbise ◽  
Odur Kenneth ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-226
Author(s):  
Ka-Huen Yip ◽  
Yuk-Chiu Yip ◽  
Catherine Man-Yin Lee ◽  
Mei-Yi Siu ◽  
Shu-Ying Ngai ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo elucidate the perceptions of young Chinese adults aged 18–25 toward adopting breastfeeding in public in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong), China.MethodsA descriptive and exploratory study design was adopted. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Focus group data were collected from three semi-structured interviews. Responses from 18 participants were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using content analysis.ResultsFour themes emerged that described the young adults’ perceptions and barriers toward breastfeeding practices: (1) adaptability of self and others, (2) cultural deem and practice, (3) convenience and connection, and (4) education and advocacy. Interestingly, all respondents (male and female) are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Their negative perceptions toward breastfeeding initiation and continuation originate from factors that are essentially extraneous to the mother–infant dyads (such as the breadth and intensity of sociopolitical support, the dominant social beliefs and norms, and the inadequacy of breastfeeding education in adolescent years).ConclusionsIn general, the young adult's perception of breastfeeding is dominated by sociopolitical and cultural-related factors. In particular, sexualization of breasts as a deep-rooted belief in the Chinese context negatively affects young adults’ perceptions and limits their breastfeeding practices.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document