Perceived Barriers for Physical Activity in Overweight and Obese Youth: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Obesity Research
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Overweight and obesity in youth is a significant public health concern.
• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for weight management in youth living with overweight and obesity (YLWOO).
• YLWOO frequently encounter perceived barriers to regular PA engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and map perceived barriers to exercise in youth living with overweight and obesity (YLWOO).

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology.
• Literature search across major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus).
• Included studies focused on individuals aged 18-29 years with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²; data analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• Sixty-four studies were included, identifying 165 distinct barriers to PA.
• Six primary categories of perceived barriers were identified: environmental/structural, intrapersonal, interpersonal/social, psychological/emotional, behavioral/lifestyle, and cultural/contextual.
• Environmental and structural barriers were most frequently reported (54 references), while cultural/contextual barriers were least reported (10 references).

Conclusions:

• This review provides a comprehensive overview of perceived PA barriers for YLWOO.
• Environmental and structural barriers are the most significant, highlighting the need for policy-level interventions.
• The low reporting of cultural/contextual barriers suggests a research gap, necessitating further investigation and tailored interventions.