title: Stakeholder perspectives on barriers for healthy living for low-income african american families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood obesity is a growing problem for children in the United States, especially for children from low-income, African American families.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand facilitators and barriers to engaging in healthy lifestyles faced by low-income African American children and their families.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study used semi-structured focus group interviews with eight African American children clinically identified as overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 85) and their parents. An expert panel provided insights in developing culturally appropriate intervention strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Child and parent focus group analysis revealed 11 barriers and no definitive facilitators for healthy eating and lifestyles. Parents reported confusion regarding what constitutes nutritional eating, varying needs of family members in terms of issues with weight, and difficulty in engaging the family in appropriate and safe physical activities; to name a few themes. Community experts independently suggested that nutritional information is confusing and, often, contradictory. Additionally, they recommended simple messaging and practical interventions such as helping with shopping lists, meal planning, and identifying simple and inexpensive physical activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood obesity in the context of low-resource families is a complex problem with no simple solutions. Culturally sensitive and family informed interventions are needed to support low-income African American families in dealing with childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Veronnie Faye
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology in the Family Therapy Program, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sterrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN , USA.
authors.forename: Sarah Morsbach
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Honaker
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health, Education and Human Development, Clemson University , Clemson, SC , USA.
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation-Asheville , Asheville, NC , USA.
authors.forename: Knowlton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: University of Louisville School of Medicine , Louisville, KY , USA.
authors.forename: Deborah Winders
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Davis
keywords: African American; United States; childhood obesity; poverty; qualitative methods