Evaluating new guidance for parents on talking to children about weight positively
In previous research, parents have told us they didn’t know how to talk about weight to their children in a positive way. They were worried approaching it in the wrong way could affect their child’s wellbeing. Health professionals also told us they didn’t know how to support parents in this area.
As a result, we have developed guidance for parents on talking to children about weight. But not all health professionals know about the guidance and councils are using it in different ways.
We know that how the guidance is used varies across the country. This means parents are not always getting the support they need.
Project aims
We will survey and interview council staff involved in the UK’s child weighing and measuring programme to understand:
- How they are using the guidance
- What (if any) changes they have made to it
- How they think it could be improved
We want to map local differences in how the guidance is used.
What we hope to achieve
We hope this project will give us a clearer understanding of how the guidance is being used by councils across the country. This will help us to design a larger study to look at the impact of the guidance on children and families.
Lead collaborators
- Georgie McArthur, North Somerset Council
- Callum Gutteridge, Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board
ARC West Staff
Dr Rowan Brockman
Senior Research Associate
Professor Russ Jago
Co-Theme Lead, Public HealthPartners on this project
Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board
Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (NHS Gloucestershire) is responsible for planning and buying services to meet the health needs of local people. It also brings partners together to ensure the county’s NHS provides the best possible care.
North Somerset Council
North Somerset Council is responsible for public health services in the area, including preventing disease and promoting healthy living. They work to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in North Somerset, with a focus on those with the poorest health.
University of Bath
The University of Bath is one of the UK's leading universities with an international reputation for quality research and teaching. Its mission is to deliver world class research and teaching, educating its graduates to become future leaders and innovators, and benefiting the wider population through our research, enterprise and influence.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is internationally renowned and one of the very best in the UK, due to its outstanding teaching and research, its superb facilities and highly talented students and staff. Its students thrive in a rich academic environment which is informed by world-leading research. It hosts the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research.