Barriers and Facilitators of Weight Management among School Children with Obesity: A Qualitative Investigation of Parents’ Perceptions

Sara Zuarub, Lily Stojanovska, Habiba I. Ali

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Parents play a critical role in influencing the eating habits of their children. This study examined parents’ perceptions of factors that contributed to childhood obesity and sought their suggestions on various modalities for overcoming the barriers to healthy eating. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were undertaken with 26 parents of 9–13 years old school children with obesity from the United Arab Emirates. Three main topics covered in the interviews were: (1) Parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight and eating habits; (2) Attitudes towards healthy eating and weight management; and (3) Suggestions on how their children can adopt a healthy lifestyle. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed using the NVIVO software to identify the emerging main themes and sub-themes. Parents identified individual/intrapersonal (child), interpersonal (peers, family, nannies), and institutional/school environment barriers and facilitators to a healthier lifestyle. The three major themes that emerged were: (1) Negative effects of obesity on children’s lives; (2) Barriers to weight management and healthy lifestyle; and (3) Facilitators to healthy eating. Nutritional education and a supportive home and school environment were suggested for the adoption of a healthy lifestyle by children.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5117
JournalNutrients
Volume14
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • United Arab Emirates
  • barriers
  • facilitators
  • healthy eating
  • obesity
  • parent’s perception
  • school children
  • weight management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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