Broadening parental involvement in family-based interventions for pediatric overweight: implications from family systems and child health.

Parent involvement has been recognized as a promising component in the treatment of pediatric overweight. However, to what extent and how to involve parents remains unclear. Family systems models have been used to treat a range of childhood illnesses and may also provide a useful framework for understanding and treating pediatric overweight. The current review presents relevant literature on family systems and child health, discusses the current state of intervention efforts in pediatric overweight, and utilizes family systems ideas to offer suggestions for practice and directions for research regarding the role of parents in treatment.