How Parents Talk about Weight: Qualitative Content Analysis Using a Randomized Experiment Study Design.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Public Health Communication
• Family Studies

Background:

• Pediatric weight bias is widespread and originates within families.
• It is linked to poor body image and disordered eating in children, with lasting adult effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how educational materials on obesity causes and consequences affect parental communication with their children.
• To examine associations between parental attitudes and their explanations of obesity.

Main Methods:

• 367 parents were randomized to read an information sheet on obesity.
• Parents wrote explanations of obesity for their children and completed an implicit attitude test.
• Parental explanations were coded for themes; associations with attitudes and child weight were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Parents generally used the information sheet to explain obesity causes and consequences.
• Parental attitudes (explicit/implicit) did not correlate with explanation themes.
• Parents of heavier children focused more on long-term/psychological consequences and less on diet.

Conclusions:

• Brief educational materials can modify parental communication about obesity.
• Developing and testing parent-focused communication interventions is a promising research avenue.
• Interventions may help mitigate pediatric weight bias and its negative health outcomes.