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The experiences and understandings of obesity: Families' decisions to attend a childhood obesity intervention.

Newson, Lisa, POVEY, Rachel, Casson, Abby and GROGAN, Sarah (2013) The experiences and understandings of obesity: Families' decisions to attend a childhood obesity intervention. Psychology and Health. ISSN 0887-0446 (In Press)

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Abstract or description

Objectives: This study investigated families’ experiences of a childhood obesity intervention, and sought to understand factors that influence attendance and lifestyle behaviours.
Design: Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Results: Four themes emerged, highlighting the differences and similarities between attendees and non–attendees; perceptions of childhood obesity, perceptions of the intervention, practical barriers and overcoming hurdles to attending, and availability and suitability of local facilities.
Conclusions: The findings relate to identity and health communication. For some families, attending an obesity intervention may challenge social and individual identities, which may impact on subsequent behavioural decisions. Those who attend the obesity intervention may experience a shift in identity, which may or may not initially be perceived as a positive outcome. Public Health and those involved in treatment interventions should aim to bridge the gap between people’s in-group identities and those associated with particular lifestyle behaviours. In order to be effective, services must meet the needs of their clients, and address any preconceived negative perceptions, by carefully considering how health information is presented, how it is understood, and most importantly how identity may affect motivation to engage in, and sustain, new behaviours.

Item Type: Article
Faculty: Previous Faculty of Health Sciences > Psychology, Sport and Exercise
Depositing User: Rachel POVEY
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2013 17:03
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2023 13:38
URI: https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/1193

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