Stakeholders' perspectives on adolescent obesity prevention amid the nutrition transition in Lebanon

Abstract

Adolescent obesity has become a major public health concern globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries undergoing rapid Nutrition Transitions. Lebanon, a middle-income country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, has experienced substantial shifts in dietary patterns and physical activity levels in recent decades, contributing to an alarming rise in obesity among youth. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders in Lebanon regarding the multilevel determinants of adolescent obesity, as well as the challenges and opportunities for effective prevention strategies in this context. The study explored stakeholders' views on the drivers of adolescent obesity in Lebanon at the individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and policy levels. The findings underscore the critical need for comprehensive, multilevel, multistakeholder approaches to address the root causes of adolescent obesity in Lebanon. This study provides timely and contextually relevant insights that can inform the development of effective and sustainable strategies to prevent and control adolescent obesity in Lebanon. It also contributes to the growing literature on the challenges and opportunities for tackling the global burden of obesity in the context of rapid Nutrition Transitions in low- and middle-income countries.