Management of Overweight during Childhood: A Focus Group Study on Health Professionals’ Experiences in General Practice

Abstract

Background. Because of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood in the Western world, focus on the management in general practice has also increased. Objective. To explore the experiences of general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses participating in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing two management programmes in general practice for children who are overweight or obese. Methods. Three focus groups with GPs and nurses participating in the RCT. Transcribed data were analysed using systematic text condensation followed by thematic analysis. Results. Health professionals considered it their responsibility to offer a management programme to overweight children. They recognised that management of overweight during childhood was a complex task that required an evidence-based strategy with the possibility of supervision. Health professionals experienced a barrier to addressing overweight in children. However, increasing awareness of obesity in childhood and its consequences in society was considered helpful to reach an understanding of the articulations concerning how best to address the issue. Conclusions. Health professionals in general practice recognised that they have a special obligation, capacity, and role in the management of obesity in childhood. Implementation of future management programmes must address existing barriers beyond an evidence-based standardised strategy.

Planting a seed - child health care nurses’ perceptions of speaking to parents about overweight and obesity: a qualitative study within the STOP project

“…However, pervious research has found that parents prefer to receive information about child weight status rather than avoid discussing it [21, 30]. Healthcare providers also believe that parents expect to be informed about their child’s weight development [24, 31]. Indeed, a previous study in Sweden has shown that, in most cases, CHC nurses, rather than parents, were those who initiated weight status conversations [11].…”

Intervention Empowerment of Families in Preventing and Controlling Overweight and Obesity in Children: A Systematic Review

“… 10 Proactive strategies are needed when childhood has been advocated for, and this would help in prevention of overweight and obesity. 11 Examples of such strategies include promoting a health diet, physical activity, and the subtraction of screen time (watching TV, playing games). This is important in preventing obesity among children in the early period of life and it was also stated in the guidelines pioneered by WHO on the prevention of obesity in children.…”