Parental Factors Associated With Intentions to Initiate a Family-Based Pediatric Weight Management Program

Wendy S Moore; Mildred M Maldonado-Molina; Amy R Mobley; Karla P Shelnutt; Megan A McVay

doi:10.1089/chi.2023.0033

Parental Factors Associated With Intentions to Initiate a Family-Based Pediatric Weight Management Program

Child Obes. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1089/chi.2023.0033. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Wendy S Moore¹, Mildred M Maldonado-Molina¹, Amy R Mobley¹, Karla P Shelnutt², Megan A McVay¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Education and Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
² Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science (IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

PMID: 37366662
DOI: 10.1089/chi.2023.0033

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity can be addressed through family-based pediatric weight management; however, treatment enrollment in the United States is low. This study aimed to identify parental factors associated with intentions to initiate a family-based pediatric weight management program. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected from an online panel of US parents with at least one 5- to 11-year-old child identified as likely to have overweight or obesity. Participants viewed a video about a hypothetical family-based pediatric weight management program, rated their 30-day initiation intentions for that program, and answered additional related questionnaires. Results: Participants (n = 158) identified as White/Caucasian (53%) or Black/African American (47%), were primarily female (61.4%) and married/cohabitating (81.6%) with children who were predominantly girls (53.2%) and, on average, 9-year-olds. Higher parents' perception of program effectiveness predicted initiation intentions (p < 0.001), while concern for their child's weight and parent depression and anxiety levels did not. Higher initiation intentions and perceived program effectiveness were reported by Black/African American participants (p < 0.01) and those with at least a bachelor's degree (p < 0.01) compared to White/Caucasian participants and those without a bachelor's degree, respectively. Initiation intentions were higher for those with greater financial security (p = 0.020) and fewer than three children in the home (p = 0.026). Participants endorsed initiation barriers of time constraints (25%), possible lack of enjoyment for the child (16.9%), and lack of family support (15%). Conclusions: Future program enrollment efforts may need to focus on strategies to increase perceived program effectiveness, although further research is needed that measures actual enrollment in real-world contexts.

Keywords: childhood obesity; family-based weight management; parent engagement; pediatric weight management; treatment engagement; treatment initiation.