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Engaging low-income parents in childhood obesity prevention from start to finish: a case study

Janine M Jurkowski1, Lisa L Green Mills, Hal A Lawson

  • 1Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA. jjurkowski@albany.edu

Journal of Community Health
|June 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Engaging parents as co-researchers in childhood obesity prevention is effective. This approach empowers parents and addresses barriers, leading to better intervention design for low-income families.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Community Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity prevention is a national priority.
  • Parental influence on children's lifestyles is significant, yet interventions often exclude parents.
  • Including parents in obesity interventions shows promise for effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engage parents as co-researchers in designing, implementing, and evaluating a childhood obesity intervention.
  • To explore effective parent engagement mechanisms within an intervention for low-income families.
  • To identify lessons learned for future research and practice in childhood obesity prevention.

Main Methods:

  • A case study approach was used.
  • Parents were actively engaged as co-researchers.
  • A Community Advisory Board (CAB), with a majority of parents, served as the key decision-making body.
  • Structural barriers to parent participation were addressed.

Main Results:

  • Targeted partnership development was a key engagement mechanism.
  • Operationalizing the CAB empowered parents as experts.
  • Addressing structural barriers facilitated parent participation.

Conclusions:

  • Parental engagement as co-researchers is a promising strategy for childhood obesity prevention.
  • Effective parent engagement requires addressing structural barriers and empowering parents.
  • Lessons learned can inform future interventions for low-income families.

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