Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity has become a global concern and evolves from the complex interaction of multiple factors. In particular, the influence of socioeconomic status and ethnicity when combined with family dynamics are important, yet remain inconsistent in their association with childhood obesity. Parents, as influential family members, play a primary role in the development of their children's eating and activity behaviors that may contribute to increased weight. This integrative review 1) examines the parental role in the development of childhood obesity and 2) identifies implications for health programs and policies. Method: Systematic searches using five databases followed by a lateral search were conducted between April and June 2014. Inclusion criteria included empirical research published in the last 5 years addressing the role that parents with children 12 years and younger play in their child being or becoming obese. Nineteen publications were identified. Results: Six themes related to the association between parental role and childhood obesity emerged from our review. These themes included parenting style, parent influence on feeding, modeling, self-efficacy, concern, and bidirectional interaction of the parent-child dyad. Parenting style, modeling, and self-efficacy were not consistently associated with childhood obesity. Parental concern, however, was linked to specific feeding practices. Parental restriction and pressure to eat certain foods were both found to be inversely related to a child's weight status. Parent's role in promoting activity was infrequently addressed. Conclusion: When addressing eating and activity behaviors among children, the role that parents play in feeding their child and their concern for their child's health is critical. Including mothers and fathers as potential "agents of change" and considering their cultural norms are two elements necessary for effective health programming and policy development.

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BackgroundExamining nursing pedagogical strategies is important to assure that nursing students have opportunities to become knowledgeable and skilled clinicians. However, little is known about the nursing pedagogical strategy of using schools for pediatric practicum. The purpose of this review is to integrate the evidence regarding the use of schools as practicum sites for nursing students to obtain pediatric clinical experience.MethodSearches were conducted in three electronic databases resulting in 70 publications; eight publications met the inclusion criteria.ResultsFive themes were identified using content analysis: description of practicum settings; level of education, number of students, clinical time and geographic region of the college; theoretical framework; nursing student activities and assignments; nursing student outcomes, evaluation of pediatric practicum experience, and school student health outcomes.ConclusionFindings support the use of schools for pediatric practicums.  This practicum broadens nursing students’ knowledge of promoting health among well and chronically ill children.