Social implications of overweight and obesity in children.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate some of the social impacts that overweight and obesity in children has on families. Healthcare practitioners may be unaware of these impacts if not similarly affected.


METHODS
Qualitative semistructured, interview-based study.


METHODS
A purposive sample of parents (n = 58) with overweight and obese children (n = 48) from three areas in the United Kingdom was used. Analysis was thematic and iterative, underpinned by Grounded Theory.


RESULTS
There are many social situations that have an impact on the child directly (stigmatization), on parents (blame), and on the family in general (being ostracized).


CONCLUSIONS
Seeing the child and his/her family in a broader context with improved understanding of the complexity of raising an overweight child.
Edmunds
Laurel D
LD
iOpener Ltd, Oxford, England, United Kingdom. laureledmunds@gmail.com
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D006113:United Kingdom