Objective: To investigate parents' perceptions of, and contributions to, food and activity choices and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle in children.
Methods: Ethnographically informed qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 47 parents (32 mothers and 15 fathers) of 5-7-year-old children.
Results: Parents were concerned about children's low intake of food, the development of eating disorders and children being 'too active'. Therefore, they promoted eating and were controlling of diet because they thought that children would not eat enough for healthy development. They did not promote, or even curbed, physical activity because they considered their children were already active. Their accounts suggested lack of awareness of the dangers of over-consumption and inactivity.
Conclusions: Parents' perceptions affected the way they raised their children and the choices that they made for them. Parents' concerns about under-consumption of food and over-activity contrast with the public health priorities to reduce intake and promote exercise.
Practice implications: Health professionals need to take into account parents' perspectives on diet and physical activity when attempting to promote children's health and prevent obesity.