Primary Submission Category: Chronic disease
Family Role in Decision-making about Childhood Overweight and Obesity Interventions: A Literature Review.
Authors: Huda Shaikha, Asheley Skinner,
Presenting Author: Huda Shaikha*
Background: A variety of effective treatments for childhood obesity exist; however, treatment aligned with family preferences is crucial for long-term success. This literature review explores families’ decision-making and their role in childhood obesity treatment. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed. Inclusion criteria entailed studies that explored family preferences in pharmacological and surgical interventions or their role in a family-based approach. Data was extracted by two independent reviewers, and the findings were synthesized thematically to identify key perspectives on treatment strategies. Results: Family plays a vital role in facilitating interventions for childhood obesity in four major domains. (1) Parents are often open to weight loss medications, especially when used as a supplement to lifestyle changes such as physical activity, considering their child’s health, dissatisfaction with the previous weight loss attempts, and trust in their doctor’s recommendations. (2) Family-based interventions are highly valued by parents, especially support in reducing screen time, encouraging physical activity, and fostering healthy eating habits to manage obesity. (3) Family-based interventions focused on enhancing parenting skills and fostering healthy family behaviors demonstrated significant effectiveness in preventing childhood obesity. Highlighting the fact that children’s eating and physical activity are highly influenced by parental behaviors. (4) Finally, parents have varied opinions on bariatric surgery for their children. While some perceive it as a beneficial tool that promotes weight management, others consider it a superficial solution that ignores psychological contributing to obesity. Conclusion: This study found that family role in childhood obesity treatment decision-making is crucial, emphasizing their influence in promoting healthy behavior while also noting diverse opinions on pharmacological and surgical options.