[Potential and challenges of an outpatient rehabilitation programme for children and adolescents with obesity - Interviews with professionals from rehabilitation centres].

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the goals, achievements and challenges of an outpatient rehabilitation program for obese children and adolescents from the perspective of specialist staff at rehabilitation centres.

Methods: As part of a multi-stage research project, 19 semi-structured, guideline-based telephone interviews were conducted with the medical and therapeutic staff of four rehabilitation centres and analysed using Framework Analysis.

Results: The interviewees agreed that the goal was a long-term and sustainable change in lifestyle. Furthermore, weight loss played an important role in both the goal and success of the rehabilitation program. Implementation of lessons learned into everyday life on a long-term basis, lower motivation of parents and various difficulties encountered by rehabilitants and staff when concomitant measures of the program were carried out during weeks of school term posed a challenge. The (active) role of parents in the outpatient rehabilitation program was shaped by different expectations on the part of all stakeholders and influenced by resources available to the families to different extents. The low number of participants was probably due to the low level of awareness and the small number of outpatient rehabilitation programs in Germany.

Conclusion: The outpatient rehabilitation program for obese children and adolescents has potential for success in individual cases. However, the goals of the rehabilitation program should be communicated more transparently, especially with regard to possible weight reduction, which in turn influences the expectations and motivation of children and adolescents and their parents. By involving parents more specifically, various challenges can be addressed and the lessons learned can be implemented more effectively into everyday life.