Childhood obesity: The family perspective

Abstract

Childhood obesity remains a poorly understood condition which is difficult to modify. Most investigations and explanations of obesity adopt a biological, psychological, or sociological perspective, with little attention being paid to the family. The work that has been done in this area tends to be based on clinical impression rather than systematic enquiry, and to focus on the mother‐child relationship rather than on the family as a whole. This latter approach, where the family is the basic unit of study, has proved useful in our understanding and treatment of several disorders that can be compared to obesity. This paper argues that the relative absence of family studies constitutes a significant gap in our investigation of childhood obesity. Such studies need to be carried out, but they should also be part of a more holistic approach to the problem, which seeks to make links between the observations made at several different levels of enquiry.

Family relations, coping styles, stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors among children and their parents.

“…Moreover, the frequency of the negative interactions was positively linked with the systolic blood pressures of the children following a conflict-provoking task. The associations between different kinds of family relations and CV disease risk factors have not been comprehensively examined, and some findings are equivocal (1, 28).…”

Family relations, coping styles, stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors among children and their parents.

“…Moreover, the frequency of the negative interactions was positively linked with the systolic blood pressures of the children following a conflict-provoking task. The associations between different kinds of family relations and CV disease risk factors have not been comprehensively examined, and some findings are equivocal (1, 28).…”

Revealing sex differences in childhood obesity by using a family systems approach.

“…In a review of the literature on family factors in childhood obesity (19), we found that there were no satisfactory observational studies of whole families, and that existing studies tended to generalize from findings in individual family members or in the mother-child dyad (3, 22, 29). Studies of psychological variables in groups of obese boys and girls found no significant differences between the sexes.…”

Talking to families about obesity: A controlled study

“…In earlier papers (Loader, 1985; Kinston et al, 1987) we argued the case for a direct family approach to the study of obesity. We conjectured that the family might be a crucial unit for study in childhood obesity since it is the site of individual physical and psychological development and the mediator of social influences.…”

“…There is not much information on the attitudes and experiences of members of a family with an obese child, except for anecdotal accounts or passing comments (Loader, 1985). There is, however, a body of relevant research which includes information obtained from obese individuals through systematic study, e.g., by Monello and Mayer (1963), and during therapy e.g., by Bruch (1957Bruch ( , 1974.…”

Family relations, coping styles, stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors among children and their parents.

“…Moreover, the frequency of the negative interactions was positively linked with the systolic blood pressures of the children following a conflict-provoking task. The associations between different kinds of family relations and CV disease risk factors have not been comprehensively examined, and some findings are equivocal (1, 28).…”

Revealing sex differences in childhood obesity by using a family systems approach.

“…In a review of the literature on family factors in childhood obesity (19), we found that there were no satisfactory observational studies of whole families, and that existing studies tended to generalize from findings in individual family members or in the mother-child dyad (3, 22, 29). Studies of psychological variables in groups of obese boys and girls found no significant differences between the sexes.…”

Talking to families about obesity: A controlled study

“…In earlier papers (Loader, 1985; Kinston et al, 1987) we argued the case for a direct family approach to the study of obesity. We conjectured that the family might be a crucial unit for study in childhood obesity since it is the site of individual physical and psychological development and the mediator of social influences.…”

“…There is not much information on the attitudes and experiences of members of a family with an obese child, except for anecdotal accounts or passing comments (Loader, 1985). There is, however, a body of relevant research which includes information obtained from obese individuals through systematic study, e.g., by Monello and Mayer (1963), and during therapy e.g., by Bruch (1957Bruch ( , 1974.…”

Family relations, coping styles, stress, and cardiovascular disease risk factors among children and their parents.

“…Moreover, the frequency of the negative interactions was positively linked with the systolic blood pressures of the children following a conflict-provoking task. The associations between different kinds of family relations and CV disease risk factors have not been comprehensively examined, and some findings are equivocal (1, 28).…”

Revealing sex differences in childhood obesity by using a family systems approach.

“…In a review of the literature on family factors in childhood obesity (19), we found that there were no satisfactory observational studies of whole families, and that existing studies tended to generalize from findings in individual family members or in the mother-child dyad (3, 22, 29). Studies of psychological variables in groups of obese boys and girls found no significant differences between the sexes.…”

Talking to families about obesity: A controlled study

“…In earlier papers (Loader, 1985; Kinston et al, 1987) we argued the case for a direct family approach to the study of obesity. We conjectured that the family might be a crucial unit for study in childhood obesity since it is the site of individual physical and psychological development and the mediator of social influences.…”

“…There is not much information on the attitudes and experiences of members of a family with an obese child, except for anecdotal accounts or passing comments (Loader, 1985). There is, however, a body of relevant research which includes information obtained from obese individuals through systematic study, e.g., by Monello and Mayer (1963), and during therapy e.g., by Bruch (1957Bruch ( , 1974.…”