MOTHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN THEIR CHILDREN
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Keywords
mothers, mother-blaming, childhood obesity, child health
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and the literature implicates parents, particularly mothers.
Aim: To develop understandings into the views of a group of mothers with an overweight or obese child, about their child’s overweight or obesity.
Method: A qualitative design informed by feminist insights. Eleven English speaking mothers of at least one overweight or obese child were drawn from a large urban community in metropolitan Australia to participate in this study.
Results: Participants attributed their child’s obesity to factors such as slow metabolism, sedentary lifestyle, familial or cultural factors, genetics, eating habits such as not drinking enough water, or not chewing food adequately. Participants were very concerned about their child’s weight problems and their immediate concerns focussed on social problems associated with obesity/overweight.
Conclusion: Understanding parental views about their children’s overweight and obesity is a key step in forming effective liaisons between health professionals and parents.
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Manuscripts accepted for publication become the property of the AJAN.
Debra Jackson, RN, PhD
Professorial Fellow, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
[email protected]
Glenda McDonald, BSocSci, GradDipSocSci(Adult Ed)
Research Assistant, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Judy Mannix, RN, MN(Hons)
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Pat Faga, RN, CM, BAppSci
Formerly Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Angela Firtko RN, CCU, Cert, MNSc(Ed.)
Formerly Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, College of Social and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.