To identify parental perspectives regarding weight-management strategies for school-age children, focus groups were conducted of parents of overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) 6–12 year-old children recruited from primary-care clinics. Questions focused on the role of the primary-care provider, effective components of weight-management strategies, and feasibility of specific dietary strategies. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using margin-coding and grounded theory. Six focus groups were held. The mean age (in years) for parents was 32, and for children, eight; 44% of participants were Latino, 33%, African-American, and 23%, white. Parents’ recommendations on the primary-care provider’s role in weight management included monitoring weight, providing guidance regarding health risks and lifestyle changes, consistent follow-up, and using discretion during weight discussions. Weight-management components identified as key included emphasizing healthy lifestyles and enjoyment, small changes to routines, and parental role-modeling. Parents prefer guidance regarding healthy dietary practices rather than specific weight-loss diets, but identified principles that could enhance the acceptability of these diets. For dietary guidance to be feasible, parents recommended easy-to-follow instructions and emphasizing servings over counting calories. Effective weight-management strategies identified by parents include primary-care provider engagement in weight management, simple instructions regarding healthy lifestyle changes, parental involvement, and deemphasizing specific weight-loss diets. These findings may prove useful in developing primary-care weight-management strategies for children that maximize parental acceptance.
展开▼
