Debra Jackson1, Glenda McDonald, Judy Mannix, Pat Faga, Angela Firtko. 1. School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. debra.jackson@uws.edu.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and the literature implicates parents, particularly mothers. AIM: To develop understandings into the views of a group of mothers with an overweight or obese child, about their child's overweight or obesity. METHOD: A qualitative design informed by feminist insights. Eleven English speaking mothers of at least one overweight or obese child were drawn from a large urban community in metropolitan Australia to participate in this study. RESULTS: Participants attributed their child's obesity to factors such as slow metabolism, sedentary lifestyle, familial or cultural factors, genetics, eating habits such as not drinking enough water, or not chewing food adequately. Participants were very concerned about their child's weight problems and their immediate concerns focussed on social problems associated with obesity/overweight. CONCLUSION: Understanding parental views about their children's overweight and obesity is a key step in forming effective liaisons between health professionals and parents.
BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and the literature implicates parents, particularly mothers. AIM: To develop understandings into the views of a group of mothers with an overweight or obesechild, about their child's overweight or obesity. METHOD: A qualitative design informed by feminist insights. Eleven English speaking mothers of at least one overweight or obesechild were drawn from a large urban community in metropolitan Australia to participate in this study. RESULTS:Participants attributed their child's obesity to factors such as slow metabolism, sedentary lifestyle, familial or cultural factors, genetics, eating habits such as not drinking enough water, or not chewing food adequately. Participants were very concerned about their child's weight problems and their immediate concerns focussed on social problems associated with obesity/overweight. CONCLUSION: Understanding parental views about their children's overweight and obesity is a key step in forming effective liaisons between health professionals and parents.
Authors: Annmarie Lyles; Susan K Riesch; Linda Sanders; Suzanne M Sass-DeRuyter; Becky Birchmeier; Kelly Kotula Journal: J Community Health Nurs Date: 2012 Impact factor: 0.974