The family-home environment and its association with childhood obesity

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Investigating the family-home environment and its association with the emergence, persistence, and remission of weight gain in mid-childhood

• IRAS ID

  233725

• Contact name

  Matthew Pearce

• Contact email

  PearceMD2@cardiff.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cardiff University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 4 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Background
  Data from the National Child Measurement Programme show that approximately one in five children start their school life (4/5 years old) either overweight or obese. Previous research has highlighted that obesity emergence and persistence in school age children is high. Research has also shown that a small proportion of children with excess weight return to a healthy weight status between the ages of 4-11years.

  Rationale
  The home environment is important in the aetiology of childhood obesity with parents playing a significant role in socialising their children and controlling the obesogenic environment. Understanding the contributing factors to both negative and positive shifts in body weight will aid the development of more effective treatment and weight management interventions.

  Aim
  The purpose of this research is to investigate the various home and family factors, motivations of parents and its relationship with the emergence, persistence, and remission of weight gain amongst primary school children in Gloucestershire.

  Design
  A mixed methods approach will be used for the study through a multi-method sequential explanatory design. This will involve the following:
  1) A quantitative component involves issuing a survey to approximately 6,200 parents to gather information on the factors, perceptions and motivations within the home and family environment and their associations with children’s body weight.
  2) Interviewing approximately ten parents/carers who have completed the questionnaire to expand on the quantitative findings and provide a richer understanding of relationships between those children who achieve a positive shift in weight status between 4/5 years and 10/11 years.
  Study outcomes

  Understanding the contributing factors to why some children lose weight healthily throughout childhood will aid the development of more effective treatment and weight management interventions. Further analysis of the NCMP will help understand the key parental and family factors which influence body weight during mid-childhood.

• REC name

  London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/HRA/4178

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Jul 2019

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion