title: Perspectives About Family Meals from Racially/Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Households With and Without an Overweight/Obese Child.
abstract: Several quantitative studies have found a protective association between family meal frequency and child and adolescent weight and weight-related behaviors (e.g., healthy dietary intake, less disordered eating behaviors). However, limited qualitative research has been conducted to understand more in depth about family meal-level characteristics (e.g., rules, responsibilities, and interpersonal dynamics) that may be risk or protective factors for child weight and weight-related behaviors. The current study aimed to identify family meal-level characteristics within racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse households that were similar and/or different between households with and without an overweight/obese child.
  
  
  
  The current study is a qualitative study including 118 parents of children ages 6-12 who participated in the Family Meals, LIVE!
  
  
  
  Parents (92% female) were from racially/ethnically (87% minority) and socioeconomically (73% <$35,000 per year) diverse households. Parents were individually interviewed during a home visit. Data were stratified by child weight status (i.e., normal weight vs. overweight/obese) and analyzed using deductive and inductive content analysis.
  
  
  
  Qualitative results showed some similarities and some differences in family meal-level characteristics by child weight status that may provide insight into past research showing significant associations between family meal frequency and child weight and weight-related behaviors. Similar themes between families with and without an overweight/obese child included: family meals provide more healthful food; rules about manners; meal planning; and involving children in meal preparation. Themes that were different between families with and without an overweight/obese child included: connection and communication; "clean your plate rule"; electronic devices; and child behavior problems.
  
  
  
  Findings from the current study may be useful for developing interventions for racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse households with and without an overweight/obese child to be delivered through family meals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School , Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Jerica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School , Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School , Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Draxten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors