Perspectives of obese children and their parents on lifestyle behavior change: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
In order to improve and optimize future behavioral family lifestyle intervention programs, more information on the perceptions of obese children and their parents of these programs is needed. As such, the aim of this qualitative study is 1) to explore the expectations of obese children and their parents in relation to lifestyle interventions; 2) to identify barriers to making lifestyle changes that parents and children face within their social context (within the family, at school and amongst friends and peers) as well as the things that facilitate these changes and 3) to identify the needs of obese children and their parents in the context of a lifestyle intervention.


METHODS
A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted. Interviewees were participants in a lifestyle intervention program in the Netherlands.


RESULTS
Eighteen children (mean age 10 years) and 24 parents were interviewed. The respondents expected to lose weight by being physically active or by eating healthily. Parents struggled with adopting and adhering to new rules and the absence of support of family members. Children struggled with inconsistent parenting and a lack of support from their parents. Bullying experienced at school impeded the children in their ability to make the necessary changes. Support from peers, on the other hand, stimulated their progress. Parents identified the need for the general practitioner to discuss overweight in a non-offensive way and to show an interest in the process of weight loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants in a lifestyle behavior intervention program benefit from parental support and help from their (extended) family, peers and friends. They would also profit from the sustained involvement of their general practitioner in assisting in the maintenance of lifestyle behavior changes.
Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.schalkwijk@vumc.nl.
A A H
AA
Schalkwijk
Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
S D M
SD
Bot
Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
L
L
de Vries
Department of Methodology and Statistics, Institute of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
M J
MJ
Westerman
Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
G
G
Nijpels
Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
P J M
PJ
Elders
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D050177:Overweight; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012574:Schools; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires