Parents' experiences of their children's obesity management at the children's hospital on Reunion Island.

Abstract

Parents' perspectives on their child's obesity (BMI >IOTF-30) management are essential to ensure positive outcomes. This study explored parents' experiences in managing their children's obesity and investigated the sociocultural and environmental factors influencing such management on Reunion Island, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. This qualitative study used a general inductive analysis approach. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from France, between January and April 2019, with nine parents of children treated in the Childhood Obesity Unit of the Children's Hospital on Reunion Island. The interviews were analysed by using thematic analysis until data saturation. Four main themes emerged reflecting the stages of parents' experiences during treatment: a life history with feelings of justification and guilt, acceptance, involvement and activism. Cultural food traditions were a barrier to implementing healthier habits. Support and advice from the healthcare services alleviated feelings of isolation and motivated parents to be more proactive in their children's obesity management. Parents' involvement motivated their children and improved their relationships. Parent's involvement is essential in managing children's obesity. To maximise treatment outcomes, tailored interventions that address parents' unique family dynamics and sociocultural perspectives are key.