Abstract
With the growth of Internet technologies, offering interventions for child and family weight management in an online format may address barriers to accessing services. This study aimed to investigate (i) whether an eHealth family healthy lifestyle program would be of interest to parents; and (ii) preferences and/or expectations for program components and features. Parents of children aged four to18 years were recruited through social media and completed an online survey (54 items) including closed and open-ended questions. Responses were collated using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Seventy-five participants were included (92% mothers, mean age 39.1 ± 8.6 years, mean BMI 27.6 ± 6.3 kg/m2). The index child had a mean age of 11 ± 6.2 years with 24% overweight/obese. The majority of parents (90.3%) reported interest in an online program, with preference expressed for a non-structured program to allow flexibility users to log-on and off as desired. Parents wanted a program that was easy to use, practical, engaging, endorsed by a reputable source, and able to provide individual tailoring and for their children to be directly involved. The current study supports the need for online delivery of a healthy lifestyle program that targets greater parental concerns of diet rather than child weight.
Highlights
Published studies which have examined interventions aimed at prevention of childhood obesity [1], showed successful strategies to include parents as the agent of change [2] and provision of resources to parents to encourage lifestyle changes within the home [1]
Parents have been acknowledged as the primary influence on the development of child eating and physical activity behaviours with their parenting styles playing a role in development of healthy lifestyles [5]
An email which contained a link to the survey was sent by researchers to university staff and students mailing lists and promoted through a variety of social networking platforms including the University of Newcastle’s (UoN) Facebook page, the UoN blog, and Hunter Medical Research Institute webpage
Summary
Published studies which have examined interventions aimed at prevention of childhood obesity [1], showed successful strategies to include parents as the agent of change [2] and provision of resources to parents to encourage lifestyle changes within the home [1]. Future interventions need to be adaptable to family routines that acknowledge the increased busy-ness with more parents in the workforce and be adaptable to various settings in order to be adopted and sustainable in the longer-term [1]. Units and the home environment are recognised to have the greatest influence on child lifestyle habits and behaviours and serve as targets for prevention and treatment of obesity during childhood [4]. Parents are recognised as the key agents of change [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
