title: Families' Perceptions of and Experiences Related to a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine parents' and children's perceptions of and experiences related to a Parents as Agents of Change (PAC) intervention for managing pediatric obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten families were recruited from a PAC intervention. Participants were interviewed before (10 adults and 9 children), during (9 adults and 8 children), and after (8 adults) the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the intervention, families reported goals to increase physical activity, plan and eat healthier meals, reduce screen time, and lose weight. During the intervention, families described different approaches to making behavior changes depending on who assumed responsibility (parent, child, or shared responsibility). After the intervention, group setting, goal setting, and portion size activities were viewed positively. Suggestions for improvement included engaging children and reducing intervention length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practitioners delivering PAC interventions should discuss families' goals and concerns, and who is responsible for making lifestyle changes. Practical activities are valuable. The length of interventions and engagement of children should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: nick.holt@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Kacey C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Amanda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: College of Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Camilla J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasquinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Geoff D C
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: obesity; parents; pediatric; qualitative; treatment