Stakeholder views of services for children and adolescents with obesity: mega‐ethnography of qualitative syntheses

Objective

The efficacy of services for children and adolescents with obesity is well researched, but this review describes what actually matters to stakeholders (children, caregivers, and professionals) in relation to such services.

Methods

A mega-ethnography, an innovative review-of-reviews approach that uses conceptual findings as primary data, was performed. Twelve bibliographic databases (2010–2020) were searched for reviews that considered the values and preferences of stakeholders concerning services or interventions (diet, exercise, lifestyle) that targeted children and adolescents with obesity.

Results

From 485 citations, 17 relevant reviews were identified. The synthesis found that the perceived need to address obesity is determined by subjective norms of weight and interactions with health professionals. Children's and caregivers' participation in obesity management services is shaped by their response to content, acceptability, and perceived benefits and demands. Whether they continue with and complete an intervention are determined by its perceived success, beyond just weight loss, including behavior change, enhanced self-esteem, and the provision of timely and relevant support.

Conclusions

Obesity management services must be promoted in a sensitive manner and must be tailored, be varied, and make positive use of family and schools if children and caregivers are to seek and actively engage with them.