Understanding parent concerns about children’s diet, activity and weight status: an important step towards effective obesity prevention interventions (original) (raw)
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Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 2008
To examine the kinds of changes parents would like to see in those settings where children spend time (kindergartens and schools, child care centres and after-school care facilities, and the local neighbourhood) in policies and practices that impact on children's risk of obesity, and to establish whether parents might be willing to advocate for changes in these settings. 175 parents from five randomly selected primary schools and five randomly selected kindergartens located in suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne completed a questionnaire in which they rated the importance of a number of potential changes to promote healthy eating and increase physical activity in their children. Parents of children in kindergarten most commonly rated changes to the eating environment as important. In contrast, parents of primary school children believed changes related to both eating and physical activity in school were important. Ninety-five per cent of parents of kindergarten children and 89% of...
J Paediatr Child Health, 2010
Helping parents engage in practices that are likely to prevent childhood obesity is a considerable challenge for health professionals, policy makers and researchers. The aim of the study was to determine who is likely to use services designed to help parents prevent overweight and obesity and what types of services they prefer. Two hundred and forty randomly selected parents of children 4-15 years from the Hunter New England region of New South Wales completed a 15 min telephone survey. Most parents would use a service to help them prevent obesity in their children but particularly parents of households from higher socioeconomic areas, female parents, parents of younger children and parents of children who are not consuming sufficient serves of fruits and vegetables, or are less active. Parents preferred personalised mailed print materials (85%), specialist appointments (61%) and emailed information (58%). Parents are interested in using a range of services to support them to encourage their children to eat healthily and be active. Researchers should test the efficacy of promising services.
Engaging parents in child obesity prevention: Support preferences of parents
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2012
Helping parents engage in practices that are likely to prevent childhood obesity is a considerable challenge for health professionals, policy makers and researchers. The aim of the study was to determine who is likely to use services designed to help parents prevent overweight and obesity and what types of services they prefer. Two hundred and forty randomly selected parents of children 4-15 years from the Hunter New England region of New South Wales completed a 15 min telephone survey. Most parents would use a service to help them prevent obesity in their children but particularly parents of households from higher socioeconomic areas, female parents, parents of younger children and parents of children who are not consuming sufficient serves of fruits and vegetables, or are less active. Parents preferred personalised mailed print materials (85%), specialist appointments (61%) and emailed information (58%). Parents are interested in using a range of services to support them to encourage their children to eat healthily and be active. Researchers should test the efficacy of promising services.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2003
Parents represent a potentially powerful intermediary in behaviour change strategies aimed at improving the lifestyle behaviours of young children. However, to fulfil this role, parents need to have the necessary knowledge and motivation to assimilate dietary guidelines. This study aimed to assess these psychosocial constructs, and subsequent parental receptiveness to nutrition education, through investigation of the barriers and benefits perceived by parents to the provision of a healthy diet and adequate exercise for their children. A qualitative methodology was employed and 41 parents took part in seven focus groups separated by socio-economic status (SES).
Public Health Nutrition, 2006
ObjectivesTo describe parental concerns about their child's weight, to determine the proportion of parents taking preventive action to avoid obesity in their children and the predictors of taking preventive action, and to describe the strategies adopted by parents.DesignA cross-sectional survey was conducted. Children's heights and weights were measured, and parents completed a questionnaire that included measures of their own weight status, perceptions of their child's weight, concerns about their child's current weight and future weight as an adolescent and adult, and the strategies used to prevent obesity.SettingThe study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia.SubjectsA total of 291 families of children aged 5–6 years and 919 families of children aged 10–12 years participated.ResultsEighty-nine per cent of parents of overweight 5–6-year-olds and 63% of parents of overweight 10–12-year-olds were unaware their child was overweight. Seventy-one per cent of parents of ...
Parental Attitudes and Perceptions Related to Their Children's Physical Activity and Eating Patterns
2010
Children's physical inactivity and poor eating patterns have received a great deal of attention in our country and worldwide. Studies have been conducted to identify determinates related to children's physical activity and eating patterns and to identify strategies for promoting positive behaviors. Parental support is a well-accepted determinate of children's physical activity and eating patterns. However, little qualitative research has been done to determine parental attitudes and perceptions related to this critical role. First, the study sought to gain a greater understanding of parental perspectives on their children's physical activity and eating patterns. Second, the study examined parental attitudes and perceptions of their own personal roles related to their children's physical activity and eating patterns and the possible role of others. Focus groups were conducted with parents who had a child or children in kndergarten through sixth grade in the Madiso...
Obesity Reviews, 2010
Evidence is increasingly pointing towards the importance of early life strategies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. This systematic review synthesises qualitative research concerning parental perceptions regarding behaviours for preventing overweight and obesity in young children. During May and June 2008 a range of electronic databases were searched and together with lateral searching techniques 21 studies were identified for review. Data extraction and synthesis using thematic content analysis revealed 6 organising and 32 finer level themes. These related to child factors, family dynamics, parenting, knowledge and beliefs, extra-familial influences and resources and environment. Themes were mapped to a socioecological model which illustrated how factors at individual, interpersonal, community, organisational and societal levels interact in complex ways to impact on parental perceptions about healthy behaviours for preventing child overweight. Although parents suggested several ideas to promote healthy child weight related behaviours, many of their views concerned perceived barriers, some of which may be amenable to practical intervention. Furthermore, intergenerational influences on parental health beliefs and knowledge suggest that health promotion strategies may be more effective if directed at the wider family, rather than parents alone. Significantly, many parents believed strategies to promote healthy weight should start early in a child's life.
Obesity Reviews, 2010
Parent involvement is an important component of obesity prevention interventions. However, the best way to support parents remains unclear. This review identifies interventions targeting parents to improve children's weight status, dietary and/or activity patterns, examines whether intervention content and behaviour change techniques employed are associated with effectiveness. Seventeen studies, in English, 1998–2008, were included. Studies were evaluated by two reviewers for study quality, nutrition/activity content and behaviour change techniques using a validated quality assessment tool and behaviour change technique taxonomy. Study findings favoured intervention effectiveness in 11 of 17 studies. Interventions that were considered effective had similar features: better study quality, parents responsible for participation and implementation, greater parental involvement and inclusion of prompt barrier identification, restructure the home environment, prompt self-monitoring, prompt specific goal setting behaviour change techniques. Energy intake/density and food choices were more likely to be targeted in effective interventions. The number of lifestyle behaviours targeted did not appear to be associated with effectiveness. Intervention effectiveness was favoured when behaviour change techniques spanned the spectrum of behaviour change process. The review provides guidance for researchers to make informed decisions on how best to utilize resources in interventions to support and engage parents, and highlights a need for improvement in intervention content reporting practices.