Ma Xinyang, Liu Taoran, Yu Jing, Gao Yangyang, Leung Chun Kai, Liang Shaolin, Akinwunmi Babatunde O, Liu Xinchang, Huang Jian, Zhang Casper J P, Ming Wai-Kit
Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Department of Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Mar 24;25(1):1118. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21572-3.
Childhood obesity has emerged as one of the most critical public health challenges in China. Despite its urgency, the existing research on parental preference for tackling childhood obesity remains insufficient. This study aimed to determine the factors that parents prioritise most when commissioning hypothetical programs that target childhood obesity prevention in China.
A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to assess parental preferences for a hypothetical childhood obesity prevention programme attributes. Recruitment occurred between 20th October 2022 and 30th December 2022, using snowball sampling facilitated through social media platforms. Eligibility criteria were limited to parents with at least one child aged between 5 and 17 years old. Relevant attributes of the childhood obesity prevention programme were identified through a literature review and expert consultation. The study encompassed six attributes, and the coefficient of these different attributes was analysed using multinomial logit models (MNL) and latent class models (LCM).
This study, involving 631 participants, demonstrates that in prioritizing attributes of childhood obesity prevention programs, parents place the greatest importance on additional costs (32.36%). This is followed by daily sleep duration (18.42%) and dietary choices (16.49%). A preference for a 9-hour sleep duration is evident (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.291; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.186-1.406; p < 0.05, reference: 7 h), as well as a tendency towards high-protein diets over low-fat ones (OR: 1.114; 95% CI: 1.034-1.200; p < 0.05, reference: low-fat diet). School-based exercise is favoured over fitness centres (OR: 0.837; 95% CI: 0.785-0.893; p < 0.001, reference: school-based). A latent class model (LCM) identifies two distinct groups: one preferring school-based exercise, 8-hour sleep, and minimal additional expenses; the other favouring 9-hour sleep and willingness to invest an additional RMB200 for weight control. Both groups prefer high-protein diets and early eating schedules.
Understanding parental preferences and concerns is vital for crafting effective public health policies aligned with UN SDGs and the SDH framework. Key elements include promoting balanced diets, ensuring safe exercise spaces, and fostering parental engagement. Collaboration among policymakers, educators, and parents is essential to mitigate childhood obesity.
儿童肥胖已成为中国最严峻的公共卫生挑战之一。尽管情况紧急，但目前关于父母在应对儿童肥胖问题上的偏好的研究仍然不足。本研究旨在确定在中国委托开展针对儿童肥胖预防的假设性项目时，父母最为优先考虑的因素。
进行了一项离散选择实验（DCE），以评估父母对假设的儿童肥胖预防项目属性的偏好。招募工作于2022年10月20日至2022年12月30日期间进行，通过社交媒体平台采用滚雪球抽样法。纳入标准仅限于有至少一名年龄在5至17岁之间孩子的父母。通过文献综述和专家咨询确定儿童肥胖预防项目的相关属性。该研究涵盖六个属性，并使用多项逻辑回归模型（MNL）和潜在类别模型（LCM）分析这些不同属性的系数。
本研究涉及631名参与者，结果表明，在对儿童肥胖预防项目的属性进行优先级排序时，父母最为重视额外费用（32.36%）。其次是每日睡眠时间（18.42%）和饮食选择（16.49%）。明显偏好9小时睡眠时间（优势比[OR]：1.291；95%置信区间[CI]：1.186 - 1.406；p < 0.05，参照：7小时），以及倾向于选择高蛋白饮食而非低脂饮食（OR：1.114；95% CI：1.034 - 1.200；p < 0.05，参照：低脂饮食）。相较于健身中心，父母更倾向于校内锻炼（OR：0.837；95% CI：0.785 - 0.893；p < 0.001，参照：校内）。潜在类别模型（LCM）识别出两个不同的群体：一个群体更喜欢校内锻炼、8小时睡眠且额外费用最少；另一个群体则青睐9小时睡眠，并愿意额外投入200元用于体重控制。两个群体都更喜欢高蛋白饮食和较早的用餐时间安排。
了解父母的偏好和关注点对于制定符合联合国可持续发展目标和健康公平框架的有效公共卫生政策至关重要。关键要素包括促进均衡饮食、确保安全的锻炼空间以及促进父母参与。政策制定者、教育工作者和父母之间的合作对于减轻儿童肥胖至关重要。
