Parents' and Caregivers' Concerns About Obesity in Young Children

Abstract

To address the childhood obesity epidemic, it is necessary to understand parents' and caregivers' concerns and beliefs regarding their children's weight problems and best practices for addressing those concerns. Formative research methods were used to identify obesity-related concerns of Hispanic, Black, and White parents of young children (5-8 years old) in North Carolina. Participants identified challenges at multiple levels of influence. In all groups, participants reported that they had trouble finding enough time to help their children develop healthy lifestyles. Conflicting family priorities and needs often made it difficult to ensure that their children had healthy diets. Children's own diet and activity preferences and their parent or caregiver's inability to adequately guide their choices also contributed to obesigenic behaviors. In addition, many thought that physician and community support for their efforts to manage their children's eating habits was inadequate. Findings from these focus groups suggest that participants would be receptive to positive, multilevel prevention approaches to help their children attain and maintain healthy weights.

Parents’ concerns regarding the growth characteristics of their adolescents: a qualitative inquiry in Iran

“…The difference between their adolescents' growth and defined subjective and objective (biomedical) norms of growth from the angle of body size and rarely secondary sexual features was a motive for the emergence of parents' worry with it, and gloomy outlook and uncertainty toward the unknown future of well-being of their adolescents, while this may be nothing to worry about and their understanding of this issue as deviation from normal condition. These findings are in agreement with previous studies showing that parents, particularly mothers, feel concerned about the shorter height and higher weight of their adolescents, and they want them to adjust (Lampard et al, 2008; Lee et al, 2009; Pope et al, 2014; Styles, Meier, Sutherland, & Campbell, 2007; Balen et al, 2005). In line with the parents’ views, the present study suggests that such parents’ existing and potential concerns about their adolescents’ bio-positions of growth can be affected by the following other potential concerns extracted (Figure 2).…”

“…This issue can be reflected by parents, concerning their bio-positions of growth. Therefore, as reported by other researchers (Puhl, Himmelstein et al, 2017; Wills et al, 2006; Styles et al, 2007), it seems that health-care experts should apply impartial terms like “weight” or “height” instead of “obese”, “heavy weight/body build”, “short”, and “small body build” when discussing with parents or adolescents. This needs to be explored further.…”

Ethnic differences in parental attitudes and beliefs about being overweight in childhood

“…In keeping with findings from the DH's consumer insight summary [17], we found parents to be aware of the health and psycho-social benefits of PA. On the other hand awareness of PA guidelines was low, as observed in other studies of parents from multiple ethnicities in the UK (Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, White, Other [33]) and the US (Hispanic, Black, White [39]), highlighting the importance of communicating PA guidelines effectively to parents [32]. It is notable that a national social marketing campaign (Change4Life, [40]) was in its early stages when this study was undertaken, and may not yet have had chance to take effect.…”

Childhood Obesity Prevention: Fathers' Reflections with Healthcare Providers

“…[7][8][9] The clinical encounter can serve as a catalyst to encourage parents to foster a healthy diet and physical activity because providers are a resource for parents in keeping their children healthy. 10,11 Unfortunately, providers and parents have reported negative experiences when discussing weight, diet, and physical activity behaviors in clinical settings. 10,[12][13][14][15][16] Providers may be less inclined to discuss obesity prevention and management because they feel parents are not motivated to make changes and are afraid that they will offend parents of children by discussing weight.…”

“…10,11 Unfortunately, providers and parents have reported negative experiences when discussing weight, diet, and physical activity behaviors in clinical settings. 10,[12][13][14][15][16] Providers may be less inclined to discuss obesity prevention and management because they feel parents are not motivated to make changes and are afraid that they will offend parents of children by discussing weight. [12][13][14][15] Parents may not be motivated to make changes because they do not feel their children are overweight or obese.…”