{
  "abstract": "Objectives This study aimed to explore what motivates parents to address their own weight and support their child to reach or maintain a healthy weight, how parents assess their child’s weight and the impact of a parent addressing their own weight on their child.Methods In this mixed-methods study, Slimming World members (a UK-based adult commercial weight management programme) who had children aged 5–11 years old were invited to complete an online survey and telephone interview. This included parent-reported measures of Body Mass Index (BMI) and their child’s weight status, physical activity and dietary behaviours. Quantitative survey data were summarised descriptively using percentages to identify associations of both parental weight management motivating factors and child weight concerns with parent weight category. Qualitative telephone interview analyses followed an inductive thematic approach.Results Improving health (81%) and dissatisfaction with appearance (81%) were the most common motivators for parents to address their own weight. 67% of parents who were worried about their child’s weight felt more motivated to help their child reach a healthier weight since they had taken steps to address their own weight. Weight-related adverse experiences during the parents’ lives were an important driver to address their child’s weight, as were health concerns. Parents assessed their child’s weight mainly through clothing size and visual comparison with peers rather than weighing. Concern about a child’s weight increased with parental BMI and child age. Since the parents addressed their own weight, 48% reported their child’s diet was healthier, and 27% that their child was more physically active.Conclusion Parents addressing their own weight are particularly motivated to help their child reach or maintain a healthy weight. Targeted, child-oriented interventions at this time may enhance the reported indirect benefits on children.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ruth Mears"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Deborah Sharp"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK",
        "NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Aidan Searle"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ruth Salway"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Julian Hamilton-Shield"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effect of parent attendance at an adult commercial weight management programme on their children",
  "uid": "ee18ec31-a234-5cff-9e4e-b8e10343bac2"
}