ArticleBMC nursing2020
Promoting healthy weight for all young children: a mixed methods study of child and family health nurses' perceptions of barriers and how to overcome them.
Article in BMC nursing, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Carer perspectives on overweight, obesity and dental caries in early childhood: findings from a systematic qualitative review.Frontiers in oral health · 2025Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators to implementing practices for prevention of childhood obesity in primary care: A mixed methods systematic review.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2022Pooled it
- Cobenefits for Participants of a Nurse-Led Telephone-Based Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Intervention: A Multimethod Qualitative Study.International journal of nursing practice · 2025Trial
- Identifying the training needs of Australian primary health professionals to support early childhood obesity prevention: a mixed methods study.Primary health care research & development · 2026Article
- Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water: next steps for child obesity prevention in early life.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Driving Research and Advocacy for Healthy Infant and Toddler Diets: The Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Article
- Embedding Child Health Promotion and Preventive Care Within Primary Health Care: From Agenda to Action.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025Article
- Primary healthcare professionals' role in monitoring infant growth: A scoping review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and community · 2024Article
- Implementing routine paediatric height/length and weight screening and weight management advice by clinicians: an evaluation.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Effect of migrant parents' bodyweight perception on children's body bodyweight: A longitudinal analysis of population cohort study.SSM - population health · 2023Article
- Influence of the implementation of strengths-based nursing and healthcare on early childhood nurses' competencies: a mixed-method study.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Trial collaborators' perceptions of the process of delivering Healthy Beginnings advice via telephone calls or text messages.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2022Article
- Comprehensiveness of infant formula and bottle feeding resources: A review of information from Australian healthcare organisations.Maternal & child nutrition · 2022Review
- Interventions Targeting Bottle and Formula Feeding in the Prevention and Treatment of Early Childhood Caries, Overweight and Obesity: An Integrative Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundChildhood obesity is a global health concern. Early intervention to help parents adopt best practice for infant feeding and physical activity is critical for maintaining healthy weight. Australian governments provide universal free primary healthcare from child and family health nurses (CFHNs) to support families with children aged up to five years and to provide evidence-based advice to parents. This paper aims to examine factors influencing the child obesity prevention practices of CFHNs and to identify opportunities to support them in promoting healthy infant growth.
methodsThis mixed methods study used a survey (
resultsCFHNs frequently advised parents on breastfeeding, introducing solid foods, and techniques for settling infants. They spent less time providing advice on evidence-based formula feeding practices or encouraging physical activity in young children. Although nurses frequently weighed and measured children, they did not always use growth charts to identify those at risk of becoming overweight or obese. Nurses identified several barriers to promoting healthy weight gain in infants and young children, including limited parental recognition of overweight in their children or motivation to change diet or lifestyle; socioeconomic factors (such as the cost of healthy food); and beliefs and attitudes about infant weight and the importance of breastfeeding and physical activity amongst parents and family members.
conclusionsCFHNs require further education and support for their role in promoting optimal child growth and development, especially training in behaviour change techniques to increase parents' understanding of healthy infant weight gain. Parent information resources should be accessible and address cultural diversity. Resources should highlight the health effects of childhood overweight and obesity and emphasise the benefits of breastfeeding, appropriate formula feeding, suitable first foods, responsiveness to infant feeding cues, active play and limiting screen time.
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Registered trials
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