Lappan Sara N, Carolan Marsha, Parra-Cardona J Ruben, Weatherspoon Lorraine
Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama At Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave. S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
J Prim Prev. 2020 Dec;41(6):503-528. doi: 10.1007/s10935-020-00612-1. Epub 2020 Oct 30.
Research concerning children who are overweight has historically focused on providing services to the affected individuals, and limited attention has been paid to their families. Further, childhood obesity prevention and clinical programs continue to be impacted by contextual factors that increase the likelihood of attrition when targeting underserved populations. This paper provides data with relevance for interventions aimed at promoting healthy eating and regular physical activity with low-income families. Participants in a childhood obesity exploratory study provided recommendations to improve programs by reflecting on specific family and contextual issues related to children who are overweight and obese. Following a thematic analysis approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 low-income, single, female parents. All participants had, at the time of the interview, at least one overweight or obese child between the ages of 3 and 8. We report the critical role of context in the etiology and challenges of childhood obesity among disadvantaged populations. Findings also highlight the need for interventions to be culturally relevant and sensitive and to create opportunities to address and discuss participant experiences of discrimination, cultural factors, and family of origin influences. Interventions that do not address these contextual factors run the risk of being unsuccessful. Our findings are important for mental and public health professionals who are interested in the direct provision of services using a combination of social determinants of systemic perspectives.
关于超重儿童的研究历来侧重于为受影响的个体提供服务，而对其家庭的关注有限。此外，儿童肥胖预防和临床项目继续受到一些背景因素的影响，这些因素增加了针对服务不足人群时出现人员流失的可能性。本文提供了与旨在促进低收入家庭健康饮食和定期体育活动的干预措施相关的数据。一项儿童肥胖探索性研究的参与者通过反思与超重和肥胖儿童相关的具体家庭和背景问题，为改进项目提供了建议。我们采用主题分析方法，对16位低收入单身母亲进行了半结构化访谈。所有参与者在接受访谈时，都至少有一个年龄在3至8岁之间的超重或肥胖儿童。我们报告了背景在弱势群体儿童肥胖的病因和挑战中所起的关键作用。研究结果还强调，干预措施需要在文化上具有相关性和敏感性，并创造机会来处理和讨论参与者在歧视、文化因素和原生家庭影响方面的经历。不考虑这些背景因素的干预措施有失败的风险。我们的研究结果对于那些有兴趣结合系统视角的社会决定因素直接提供服务的心理和公共卫生专业人员来说很重要。
