The weight management practices and support needs of young adults living with excess weight in the UK and Australia: A mixed methods cross-sectional study using data from the YOUTH cohort

Abstract

Background Young adulthood is a critical period where there is an increased weight gain trajectory. Understanding the weight management support needs of young adults with excess weight is essential to enable the delivery of appropriate and tailored services and prevent the development of comorbidities. This study sought to determine the current health service usage, weight management practices and support needs, in young adults with excess weight. Methods A mixed-methods convergent parallel design was employed. A cohort of community-dwelling young adults (18–35 years), with excess weight (BMI ≥ 25), residing in the UK and Australia participated in an online, longitudinal survey. Cross-sectional data was analysed descriptively, including quantitative measures of health service usage and weight management practices. Responses to an open-ended question asking what support participants would find most helpful were analysed using Thematic Template Analysis. Convergence and divergence across sociodemographic characteristics were explored. Results The sample (n = 410) included 204 women, 201 men and five non-binary people with a mean age of 28.3 and BMI of 35.8. Most participants reported a white ethnicity (80%) and resided in the UK (83%). Half reported a below median gross household income (49%). Most (73%) reported currently trying to manage their weight and 63% were using commercial weight management products or self-directed diets. Only 12% of participants reported accessing healthcare services for weight management support or treatment, yet qualitative responses indicated a desire for support from a dietitian or psychologist. Five themes indicated a need for structured but tailored resources, simplicity, addressing internal and external barriers, access to holistic professional support, and access to networks vs a preference for self-reliance. Conclusions Young adults with excess weight are using commercial products and self-led diets but many desire specialist healthcare professionals to support their weight management. Young adults appear to prefer online resources and support that are simplistic, structured and individually tailored to their diverse cultural preferences, routines, environments, and comorbidities. Furthermore, findings indicate unmet psychological support needs amongst young adults with excess weight in the UK and Australia. Protocol Whatnall, M., Fozard, T., Kolokotroni, K.Z., Marwood, J., Evans, T., Ells, L.J. and Burrows, T., 2022. Understanding eating behaviours, mental health and weight change in young adults: protocol paper for an international longitudinal study. BMJ open, 12(9), p.e064963.