Childhood Obesity Prevention: Fathers' Reflections with Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Background: To prevent childhood obesity, parents and their children's healthcare providers need to engage in effective dialogue. We know much about mothers' experiences, but very little about fathers' experiences.Methods: We explored African-American, Caucasian, and Latino fathers' perceptions and experiences communicating with their children's provider during clinic visits regarding weight, diet, and physical activity. Focus groups (n = 3), grouped by race/ethnicity, including a total of 24 fathers, were conducted. The men were asked open-ended questions; responses were recorded and transcribed, and analyzed using ATLAS.ti.Results: Findings revealed that these fathers were involved in their children's healthcare and found providers to be helpful partners in keeping their children healthy, yet they generally felt ''left out'' during clinic appointments. The quality of the relationship with their children's provider influenced how receptive fathers were to discussing their children's weight, diet, and physical activity behaviors. Fathers made suggestions to help improve communication between providers and fathers, such as personalizing the discussion.Conclusions: These fathers expressed strong feelings about the provider-parent relationship when discussing weight, diet, and physical activity.

Communicating with children and families about obesity and weight‐related topics: a scoping review of best practices

“…The literature was consistent that all HCPs (especially nurses and physicians) have a responsibility to address the topic of obesity with children and their families, as they would with any other health condition, with many of the recommendations drawn from the lived experience literature . Two articles in particular proposed that weight‐related topics are best raised by a HCP with a long‐term, trusting relationship and knowledge of the family , which was also endorsed by an obesity guideline article . Focusing upon practical strategies, two papers recommended that nurses assessing children's weight should highlight any concerns so that physicians can address them when they see children and their families .…”

“…All three categories of studies recommended that HCPs should initiate weight‐related discussions as early as possible in order to prevent obesity , although there was divergent information in the lived experience articles around the context within which the topic could be raised. For example, one study suggested that the topic should be raised at all well‐child visits, whether or not a weight issue had been identified ; another article suggested that HCPs should discuss weight in the context of a clearly associated health problem (e.g.…”

“…The lived experience literature recommended that HCPs should ensure that their communication (verbal and non‐verbal) conveys respect, trust, openness and sensitivity to cultural values . Some authors suggested that HCPs use parents’ non‐verbal cues (e.g.…”

Investigating the Relationship of Body Mass Index, Diet Quality, and Physical Activity Level between Fathers and Their Preschool-Aged Children

“…These relationships are important because a recent qualitative study found that fathers who are involved in their child's health care are open to advice regarding their child's weight, diet, and physical activity, although these fathers often felt left out or completely ignored by the physician. 14 If fathers are open to advice, but are not receiving it, practitioners may be missing key opportunities regarding diet, physical activity, or weight management, and thus child obesity prevention.…”

Engaging Fathers in Early Obesity Prevention During the First 1,000 Days: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies

“…In a sample of EHS staff, a tendency to stereotype men into traditional gender roles (e.g., disinterested in activities with their child, not wanting to talk about emotional matters) contributed to difficulty implementing an approach to father involvement that emphasized individualized interactions between staff and fathers . Collectively, these factors are experienced by fathers as a lack of respect, and they reinforce traditional cultural norms of the predominant role of mothers as primary caregivers in the first 1,000 days , which in turn have implications for fathers’ attendance at appointments and receptivity to the information provided .…”