Barriers to Behavior Change in Parents With Overweight or Obese Children: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Katrin Ziser,Anne Herschbach,Stephan Zipfel,Stefan Ehehalt,Felicitas Stuber,Katrin Elisabeth Giel,Florian Junne,Stefanie Decker

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631678

Katrin Ziser, Anne Herschbach + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.631678

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Abstract

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are global problems of our time. Due to their authority and role modeling, parents play an essential part in the efficacy of prevention and intervention programs. This study assessed the barriers that parents of overweight/obese children face in preventive and interventional health care utilization. Sixteen parents were qualitatively interviewed. A content analysis was performed, and barriers to change were allocated to their stage of change according to the transtheoretical model. Among the main barriers is the underestimation of health risks caused by overweight/obesity in association with diminished problem awareness. Parents seem not necessarily in need of theoretical knowledge for prevention and interventions. They do however need support in evaluating the weight status of their child and the knowledge of whom to turn to for help as well as specific and hands-on possibilities for change. The results extend past studies by adding specific barriers to change that parents commonly experience. Possibilities to address these barriers, e.g., through trainings at the pediatric practice or adoption of conversation techniques, are discussed. Future studies might identify subgroups experiencing specific barriers and thus be able to address these in an individualized way.

Highlights

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are global problems of our time (World Health Organization (WHO), 2014)
The school enrollment medical examination was chosen for recruiting parents since it is mandatory in Germany for their children and provides the opportunity to recruit in an unbiased setting in comparison to, e.g., a pediatrician practice in which parents might only present themselves if overweight/obesity of their children is already a concerning topic for them
The present study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first qualitative study identifying barriers to behavior change in parents of preschool children with overweight/obesity that comprised a sample of parents with at least one of three identified risk characteristics for developing overweight/obesity

Summary

Introduction

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are global problems of our time (World Health Organization (WHO), 2014). In Germany, about 15% of children and adolescents are affected by overweight and about 6% by obesity (Kurth and Schaffrath Rosario, 2007; Schienkiewitz et al, 2018). Evidence suggests the importance of starting intervention and prevention programs at an early age. Childhood overweight and obesity in preschool children have dramatically increased in the last decades (De Onis et al, 2010). This section contains areas affecting the knowledge and/or living environment of the interviewed parents. The “knowledge/level of information” category, for example, refers to heterogeneous statements of parents either negating the need of information on childhood overweight/obesity or showing satisfaction with their knowledge even if it was false. Well informed.” (Interview Mother no. 12, IM12) “Having 2, 3 or even 5 kg more at the moment is okay, I think.” (Interview Father no. 3, IF3)

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