Family-Based Obesity Prevention: Perceptions of Canadian Parents of Preschool-Age Children

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
3 October 2017

Abstract

Our objectives were to explore the perspectives of a community-based sample of Canadian parents with 2–5-year-old children on: (i) strategies to support the development of healthful weight-related behaviours and (ii) assessment approaches to measure weight-related behaviours and outcomes among children and families. We conducted 4 focus groups with 28 parents (89% mothers and 68% identified as White). Transcripts were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Regarding parent’s perceptions of strategies to support healthful behaviours, we found that parents largely valued: home-based interventions, expert opinion, practical health behaviour strategies delivered in a nonjudgmental manner, and opportunities for social support. Regarding perceptions of assessment procedures, parents had mixed views on children providing blood samples, but looked upon it more favourably if it would contribute to research on child health. Our results suggest that to increase parental engagement interventions focused on improving weight-related behaviours among families with young children should be delivered within the home and include easy-to-implement behaviour change strategies communicated by experts, such as dietitians working in the clinical or public health setting. Using social media to share information and provide a platform for social support may also be an effective way to engage parents of young children.

Résumé

Nos objectifs étaient d’examiner les perspectives d’un échantillon communautaire de parents canadiens ayant des enfants de 2 à 5 ans relativement : (i) aux stratégies visant à soutenir l’adoption de comportements sains en ce qui a trait au poids et (ii) aux approches d’évaluation permettant de mesurer les comportements relatifs au poids et leurs résultats chez les enfants et les familles. Nous avons organisé 4 groupes de discussion avec 28 parents (dont 89 % étaient des femmes et 68 % s’identifiaient comme étant de race blanche). Les transcriptions ont été analysées en utilisant des outils d’analyse de contenu traditionnels. En ce qui a trait à la façon dont les parents perçoivent les stratégies destinées à soutenir les comportements sains, nous avons découvert que ceux-ci accordaient plus de valeur aux interventions à domicile, aux opinions d’experts, aux stratégies pratiques de comportements liés à la santé exprimées sans porter de jugement et aux occasions de soutien social. En ce qui a trait à la perception des procédures d’évaluation, les opinions des parents étaient partagées quant au fait que les enfants doivent fournir des échantillons sanguins, mais y étaient plus favorables si cela pouvait contribuer aux recherches sur la santé infantile. Nos résultats suggèrent que, pour augmenter l’engagement des parents, les interventions ciblant les comportements visant à améliorer le poids dans les familles comprenant de jeunes enfants devraient être effectuées à domicile et comprendre des stratégies de changement de comportement faciles à implanter, communiquées par des experts comme des diététistes travaillant dans un contexte clinique ou de santé publique. L’utilisation des médias sociaux pour diffuser de l’information et fournir une plate-forme de soutien social pourrait aussi s’avérer un moyen efficace de favoriser l’engagement des parents de jeunes enfants.

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Financial support: This research was supported by the Health for Life Initiative—University of Guelph and a Masters grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 79Number 1March 2018
Pages: 13 - 17

History

Version of record online: 3 October 2017

Authors

Affiliations

Carley O’Kane MSc, RD
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Angela Wallace MSc, RD
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Laura Wilson MSc, RD
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Angela Annis MSc
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
David W.L. Ma PhD
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Jess Haines MHSc, PhD, RD
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
On Behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study
Guelph Family Health Study, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

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1. Families’ perception of proposed nutrition screening on admission to pediatric hospitals: a qualitative analysis
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