title: Parenting an overweight or obese teen: issues and advice from parents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This qualitative study addresses: (1) what challenges parents of overweight adolescents face and (2) what advice parents of overweight adolescents have for other parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-on-one interviews were conducted with parents of overweight or previously overweight adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical clinic at the University of Minnesota.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven parents of adolescents (12-19 years) who were either currently or previously overweight recruited from the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interviews related to parenting overweight adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis was used to identify themes regarding parental experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Issues most frequently mentioned were (1) uncertainty regarding effective communication with adolescent about weight-related topics; (2) inability to control adolescents' decisions related to healthful eating and activity behaviors; (3) concern for adolescents' well-being; and (4) parental feeling of responsibility/guilt. Parental advice most often provided included: (1) setting up a healthful home environment; (2) parental role modeling of healthful behaviors; and (3) providing support/encouragement for positive efforts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topics for potential intervention development include communication and motivation of adolescents regarding weight-related topics, appropriate autonomy, and addressing negative emotions concerning the adolescent's weight status. Targeting these topics could potentially improve acceptability and outcomes for treatments.
authors: Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. kboutelle@ucsd.edu
authors: Kerri N
authors: KN
authors: Boutelle
authors: Shira
authors: S
authors: Feldman
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Neumark-Sztainer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult