Davidson, K., & Vidgen, H. (2017). Why do parents enrol in a childhood obesity management program: a qualitative study with parents of overweight and obese children. BMC Public Health, 17(1).Â
The main aim of the research by Davidson and Vidgen (2017) was to evaluate the reason why parents enroll their obese children into obesity management problems. The research used semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews with 21 parents as the participants (Davidson & Vidgen, 2017). The parents had children enrolled in a healthy lifestyle program. The questions were developed using the theory of planned behavior and covered parental motives for admission, hopes, and hesitation on enrolling. The researchers discovered that most parents were aware of their children’s status and were worried about it (Davidson & Vidgen, 2017). Most parents had tried to address the issue on their own to no avail and thereafter sought assistance from health professionals. Most parents had eventually decided to enroll their children into a weight loss program after evaluating their previous attempts and the emotions of their children.
A potential shortcoming in the research may be the use of 21 participants only. This number is too small to consider the results of the study generalizable. The use of a larger number of participants in a study of similar nature in the future is likely to massively boost the credibility of the findings. The characteristics of the study sample did not have a representation of all the races due to various constraints to the research, rendering the results limited in application. Davidson and Vidgen (2017) concluded that childhood obesity management programs are crucial in guaranteeing the health of children. Despite initial hesitance from the parents to enroll their children into these programs, initiatives to enable children to gain healthy body weight should be encouraged. The children can attempt these initiatives at home or in the programs. This research is crucial in addressing childhood obesity as it encourages programs that can enable the attainment of healthy body weight by children. It also provides insights into the attitudes of parents and can enable the formulation of effective solutions.
Appleton, J., Fowler, C., & Brown, N. (2017). Parents’ views on childhood obesity: qualitative analysis of discussion board postings. Contemporary Nurse, 53(4), 410–420.Â
The main aim of the research by Appleton et al. (2017) was to evaluate the views held by parents on childhood obesity and how they influenced parental decisions. The research used a qualitative descriptive methodology using 34 sampled threads from two Australian-based asynchronous online conversation mediums (Appleton et al., 2017). The researchers used the template analysis method to analyze the data collected from the threads. The online forums were chosen as a source of data due to their anonymity and lack of fear in the parents when expressing their views. Appleton et al. (2017) discovered that most of the parents understood the gravity of childhood obesity and regarded it as a public health concern. Discussions on the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle for children indicated their understanding of the issue (Appleton et al., 2017). The parents shared their separate stories about childhood obesity and acknowledged the role of healthcare professionals in combating it.
The use of online participants in the study was a major shortcoming for the research as there was no way of verifying their experiences and opinions for truthfulness. Appleton et al. (2017) obtained the results that did not have sufficient generalizability as the sample was not evaluated for various demographic differences. The authors concluded that most parents understand the seriousness of childhood obesity as a public health concern that endangers the lives of their children. The parents also understood that prevention and early interventions were critical in combating the problem. The researchers concluded that healthcare professionals must adhere to the professional code of conduct when dealing with obese children to boost confidence and parental resolve. This research is crucial in addressing childhood obesity as it enables a better understanding of parental perspectives and will be crucial in formulating strategies.
References
Appleton, J., Fowler, C., & Brown, N. (2017). Parents’ views on childhood obesity: qualitative analysis of discussion board postings. Contemporary Nurse, 53(4), 410–420.
Davidson, K., & Vidgen, H. (2017). Why do parents enrol in a childhood obesity management program: a qualitative study with parents of overweight and obese children. BMC Public Health, 17(1).