Experiences of Obese Adolescents trying to Reach a Healthy Weight: Considerations for the Development of a Curriculum Guide.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity, almost all around the world, has been described by the medical authorities as the most common pediatric illness in children and youngsters. The purpose of this study is to explore, describe, and analyze the experiences of obese adolescents on being obese and trying to reach a healthy weight. DESIGN AND METHODS: A convenience sample of eight obese adolescents from 15 to 17 years old of both genders from three high schools of the educational region of San Juan, Puerto Rico was obtained. A phenomenological multiple-case study was conducted using a semi structured interview. RESULTS: The experience of trying to reach a healthy weight is difficult because it requires a lot of physical effort to do exercises and physical activities, they lack the support of parents and trainers, and because of the availability of food with low nutritional value in their environment. Participants also pointed out that it is difficult due to the negative feelings that adolescents experience while performing the activities to lose weight. CONCLUSION: The goal to reach a healthy weight is difficult. It is recommended that agencies that work with overweight and obesity problems provide people with the knowledge, strategies, alternatives, and needed activities from a biopsychosocial perspective to help adolescents with this health condition to be successful in reaching and keeping a healthy weight.

Intervención psicológica en los juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe - Mayagüez 2010 / Psychological intervention in the 2010 Mayagüez Central-American and Caribbean Games

Este trabajo presenta un modelo de intervención en un gran evento deportivo, donde normalmente no es fácil que trabajen un número importante de psicólogos bajo una misma idea de intervención. Se explica la importancia de los Juegos para el país organizador, Puerto Rico, la periodización de dicha intervención, la formación académica de los psicólogos que intervinieron el proyecto, así como las diferentes fases de la misma. Se presenta igualmente la forma de intervención directa e indirecta y algunas experiencias de campo para hacer más valiosa la misma. En este proyecto se usaron técnicas basadas en psicoterapia breve para abordar casos individuales, trabajo grupal en diferentes equipos como el de balonmano femenino o como en el caso de remo se trabajó para tratar de minimizar el efecto Ringelman. La visión multidisciplinar con la que se diseñó el programa pone de manifiesto la importancia de incluir a la diversidad de agentes que participan en el hecho deportivo y que va más allá del trabajo individual con el deportista (AU)

This paper presents an intervention model for major sports events, during which it is normally not easy for significant numbers of psychologists to work with similar intervention strategies. The importance of these Games to Puerto Rico -the event organizer- periodization of the event, academic formation of the psychologists intervening in the project as well as the different phases in it are explained. Direct and indirect interventions are presented along with field experiences to increase their relevance. The multidisciplinary scope of the programme shows the importance of including a variety of agents in the event, which goes beyond individual work with athletes (AU)