Parents who took part in a program aimed at adult weight management and were concerned about their child’s weight were willing to accept help and be directed to relevant services for their child if such assistance was provided.
This research, financed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and aided by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (Bristol BRC), indicates that weight management services could serve children by involving parents who are participating in similar programs for their own weight issues.
Throughout the research, scientists surveyed and talked to parents enrolled in Slimming World, a UK-based commercial weight management initiative for adults. They discovered that among parents concerned about their child’s weight, a significant majority (78%) were receptive to receiving support for their children.
Among those parents seeking assistance for their child, nearly all (98%) were agreeable to the weight management program guiding them to appropriate services for children. The research team also noted that almost half of the parents who weren’t worried about their child’s weight still expressed interest in examining their child’s height and weight.
Parents had varied preferences regarding how services could be presented and delivered for their children. There was a consensus that a tailored approach, rather than a generalized one, was crucial for effective support.
Parents emphasized that the focus of the support should be on promoting health rather than solely on weight. They also pointed out that weekly meetings might be too frequent and stressed the importance of recognizing that change takes time. Many believed a peer support group for parents would be advantageous.
Dr. Ruth Mears, a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care and the primary author of the study, stated: “Child weight management programs should include family participation. However, getting families involved in these programs can be difficult.”
“Even though children face a higher risk of obesity when their parents struggle with obesity, adult weight management programs typically do not connect with services for child weight management. This oversight means missing the chance to assist children in achieving a healthier weight alongside their families when parents are already making lifestyle adjustments.”
“Our research highlights the possibility of establishing a new referral route to child weight management programs through parents who are participating in adult weight management initiatives.”
Dr. Sarah Bennett, a Senior Research Associate at Slimming World, remarked: “At Slimming World, we recognize the significance of family-centered weight management. While we do not provide a weight management program for children within our groups, we were pleased to partner with the University of Bristol’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Centre for Academic Primary Care for this study.”
