title: A qualitative exploration into parental recognition of overweight and obesity in pre-adolescents: a process of discovery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to describe influential factors as parents become aware that their pre-adolescent is overweight/obese.
  
  
  METHODS
  A grounded theory approach was used, and 17 parents of obese pre-adolescents were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the concept of discovery ("How did you come to realize your pre-adolescent was overweight or obese?"), five central themes emerged. The theme of predisposition emerged as most parents believed there was some type of predisposition for their pre-adolescent to be overweight/obese. Parents avoided using the words overweight, obese, or fat to describe their pre-adolescent's body habitus, thus leading to the theme "husky build." "Compared to others" was identified as a theme since most parents described how they compared their overweight pre-adolescent with other pre-adolescents. The health care provider emerged as a theme because the role of the health care provider played a pivotal role in the discovery process for parents. Finally, parental buy-in involved acceptance that their pre-adolescent was overweight and recognition that this status signaled a problem and a potential health threat for their pre-adolescent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents do not rely solely on visual cues. Several factors are involved in the awareness process of parents whose pre-adolescents are clinically obese. The input from the health care provider played a significant role.
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Laurent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D050177:Overweight / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Obesity; grounded theory; parental recognition; pre-adolescent