Developing Health Messages: Qualitative Studies with Children, Parents, and Teachers Help Identify Communications Opportunities for Healthful Lifestyles and the Prevention of Obesity

Childhood overweight is at an all-time high in the United States. In an effort to better understand children's, parents', and teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors about preventing overweight in childhood and to explore potential avenues for communicating overweight prevention messages, we conducted qualitative research with these three groups in 2000. Our research consisted of three progressive phases, each building on information obtained from the previous phase: Phase 1, 16 focus groups (N = 112); Phase 2, in-home observations, in-depth interviews, and diaries (N = 6 families); Phase 3, 10 qualitative interview sessions (N = 46). Both parents and children indicated that encouragement and "small victories" to sustain involvement in getting more fit were critical to success. The findings also suggest that children need direct messages to motivate them to change their exercise and eating habits, as well as tips on cooperating with their parents to achieve fitness goals. Parents need to learn how to talk about eating and exercise habits with their children in positive and encouraging ways and to learn how to help their children maintain efforts to get fit. Teachers consider it essential that parents support healthful lifestyles at home. Parents and children need positive, realistic approaches to getting fit, such as answers to questions about healthful lifestyles; ideas for physical games and activities the family can enjoy together; attainable goals and small steps to healthful eating; healthful meal, snack, and recipe suggestions; incentive ideas for getting kids active; and referral services for local support groups. Parents and children need to work together in addressing the overweight prevention issue and need effective tools to facilitate this cooperative effort.