Parental Perceptions of interventions to Prevent and Manage Obesity in Children: Qualitative Analysis in underserved Inner-city Communities

Purpose: Evaluate parental perceptions and preferences regarding nutrition interventions for their children through questionnaires and focus groups with caregivers of overweight and obese children in an underserved, predominantly African American, inner city community.1 Methods: The target population was caregivers of children age 3-18 with a BMI > 85%. Purposeful sampling identified participants who could provide information related to healthy eating and exercise. Questionnaires were used to determine children’s eating and exercise habits. Three focus group discussions with participants provided qualitative information related to health habits and …