ArticleBMC public health2023
The systematic development of guidance for parents on talking to children of primary school age about weight.
Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Children's views of obesity, body size and weight: systematic review of UK qualitative evidence.Journal of epidemiology and community health · 2026Pooled it
- Body image resources for parents of youth: a scoping review.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- How public health practitioners in the UK are using parental guidance on talking to children about weight: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2026Article
- Children's views on weight measurement and talking about weight.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Parents' Responses and Reactions to the National Childhood Measurement Programme in a Contemporary Sample of British Children: A Mixed-Method Study.Journal of obesity · 2025Article
- Title: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Parental Perceptions, Motivators, and Barriers to Management of Childhood Obesity.Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy · 2024Article
- The acceptability of evidence-informed guidance for parents in talking to their children about weight.BMC public health · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is increasing, alongside increases in rates of children's anxiety and worry about their weight. In many countries children's weight is measured, and parents are made aware if a child has been classified as having overweight or obesity. However, many parents are concerned that raising their child's awareness of their weight, and talking to children about their weight could harm their wellbeing. The aim of this project was to develop guidance for parents on constructive ways to talk to children of primary school age about weight when they need to.
methodsThe project followed a mixed-methods design: Phase 1 involved the collation of evidence including (a) two previously published systematic literature reviews to identify the associations between parent-child weight talk, and broader health discussions, and children's wellbeing, (b) interviews with children, and (c) development and refinement of narrative messaging (previously published). In Phase 2 we developed a conceptual model and mapped primary findings to techniques and content within a draft guidance document for parents on talking to children about weight. Phase 3 involved a modified Delphi process with 29 stakeholders to refine and agree a final version.
resultsAn acceptable draft guidance was agreed following two stages of feedback from Delphi participants. Key areas for debate and adaptation included: encouraging discussion about health and growth with lesser focus on weight; finding ways to reduce stigma and perceptions of blame; emphasising a whole-family approach; inclusive representation of diversity among children and families.
conclusionsConsensus on the content of guidance for parents on talking to children about weight was achieved through a process of evidence review and stakeholder and expert engagement. The next steps are to measure the impact of the resource on improving the experience of parents and children in communicating about weight.
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