Indenifying Educational Needs for Obesity Management Using an AI Chatbot among High School Girls: Insights from Focus Group Interviews

The purpose of this study is to provide foundational data for obesity management program using a chatbot by identifying the educational needs of high school girls. Data collection was carried out using focus group interviews with recruiting via social media. Interviews were conducted with three groups with a total of nine participants. All interview content was recorded and transcribed verbatim by the researcher, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study identified a total of 39 concepts, which were categorized into 16 subcategories and seven main categories. The seven main categories for a weight management program using a chatbot that participants desire were: : “Setting Weight Loss Goals,” “Emotional Regulation and Stress Management,” “Dietary Planning and Coping with Failures,” “Maintaining a Sense of Achievement After Exercise,” “Alleviating Concerns about Appearance,” “Privacy Protection and Confidentiality,” and “Effective Media.” Additionally, high school girls expected that using a chatbot would make it easier to address their questions and concerns related to weight management. Based on the results of this study, developing a chatbot-based obesity management program for high school girls and to verifying is needed.