Attitudes to childhood overweight and obesity: The limits of cultural explanations

Abstract

Objectives: To explore attitudes to and beliefs about childhood overweight and obesity among Bangladeshi mothers and to check maternal perceptions of their children’s weight status. Design: Mixed methods cross-sectional study. Setting: A general practice in East London, UK. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 14 mothers; weighing and measuring 22 children. Results: Mothers were generally aware of broad health promotion messages about diet and exercise, but many tended to under-estimate their children’s weight status. Differences in view did not reflect in any simple way English language skills, and the range of views reflected those in the majority population. Conclusion: Health promotion initiatives should assess individual needs; membership of a Bangladeshi community does not necessarily predict knowledge, beliefs or behaviour, and assumptions that this community is different from others are misleading.

Ethnic density and area-deprivation effects on central obesity among ethnic minority people in England—A cross-sectional, multi-level analysis

“…Previous research and theory suggest that larger body sizes are viewed more positively among Black Caribbean women ( 56 ) and such social norms may be amplified in areas of higher co-ethnic density. However, this theory is heavily contested because there is evidence to suggest that Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian ethnic minority women living in the UK have similar body size ideals to those of the White majority (slimness) rather than ideals of larger body sizes ( 57 – 60 ). Attitudes to body size are not tested in this research so it is important that conclusions are not drawn from this research in relation to body size ideals when there is no evidence to support such claims.…”

Lifestyle knowledge and preferences in preschool children: Evaluation of the Get up and Grow healthy lifestyle education programme

“…The worldwide prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased dramatically over the past three decades (Han et al, 2010). This is of great concern as overweight and obese children are at an increased risk of a number of short- and long-term health conditions, which can result in poor physical and psychological health (Chakrabarti and Abbott, 2012; Lanigan, 2011; Nemet et al, 2007; World Health Organization [WHO], 2012). Although the mechanisms responsible for the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity are not completely understood, unhealthy nutritional habits and declining rates of physical activity are considered to play important roles (WHO, 2012; Zarnowiecki et al, 2011).…”