Examination of behaviors and perceptions of insulin resistant children and their parents: Who's motivated to change?

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of overweight among adolescents has more than tripled in the past 20 years. Insulin resistance and subsequent development of type 2 diabetes are serious co-morbidities associated with overweight status. Despite the morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes, parents and their insulin resistant children often have difficulty implementing changes to reduce weight and manage insulin resistance.

METHODS

A semi-structured interview and eating behaviors questionnaire was administered to 25 parents and their insulin resistant children (ages 13-17) receiving care in a hospital-based insulin resistance clinic. The audio recorded interview assessed (a) perceptions about health and type 2 diabetes and (b) child and family health behaviors (food and drink consumption and physical activity levels) that may affect weight management. Interviews were transcribed and coded using content analysis. The typical participant was African American, 15.4 years (mean age) with a mean BMI (kg/m2) ≥ the 90th percentile for age and gender.

RESULTS

We anticipate that adolescents who exhibit lower readiness to change will have more difficulty adopting healthier lifestyles and exhibit riskier perceptions about their susceptibility for development of type 2 diabetes and the severity of type 2 diabetes. We also anticipate that parents will perceive less control over their child's food choices during later adolescent years.

CONCLUSIONS

Determination of readiness to change and risky heath perceptions can aid in development of more effective interventions to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in high-risk minority adolescent populations. The resulting work consequently has great public health implications.