title: The experiences and understandings of obesity: families' decisions to attend a childhood obesity intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the families' experiences of a childhood obesity intervention and sought to understand factors that influence attendance and lifestyle behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes emerged highlighting the differences and similarities between attendees and non-attendees perceptions of childhood obesity, perceptions of the intervention, practical barriers and overcoming hurdles to attending and, availability and suitability of local facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings relate to identity and health communication. For some families attending an obesity intervention may challenge social and individual identities, which may have an impact on subsequent behavioural decisions. Those who attend the obesity intervention may experience a shift in identity, which may or may not initially be perceived as a positive outcome. Public Health and those involved in treatment interventions should aim to bridge the gap between people's in-group identities and those associated with particular lifestyle behaviours. In order to be effective, services must meet the needs of their clients and address any preconceived negative perceptions by carefully considering how health information is presented, how it is understood and most importantly how identity may affect motivation to engage in, and sustain, new behaviours.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Science, Natural Sciences and Psychology , Liverpool John Moores University , Liverpool , UK .
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newson
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Povey
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grogan
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research