Acceptability and utility of parental guidance on weight talk with children for GPs: a qualitative study
- 1Irish College of General Practitioners, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
- 2Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK
Abstract
Background: Childhood overweight and obesity rates are rising globally, yet many healthcare professionals and parents worry that raising the issue could harm children’s wellbeing. New, evidence-informed guidance for parents on constructive ways to talk to children about their weight has been created to address these concerns. GPs are important in providing and endorsing this guidance, as part of broader efforts to support families.
Aim: To explore the acceptability and usability of this novel guidance from the perspective of general practice.
Design & setting: A qualitative study with GPs in the Republic of Ireland.
Method: Semi-structured interviews with practising GPs were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed.
Results: Fifteen GPs (10 male, five female) participated. Three key themes were identified. Theme 1 explored how the guidance was deemed to be useful in overcoming perceived barriers to having conversations with parents about their child’s weight. Participants believed it would be effective in reducing stigma, promoting conversations and providing a framework to the consultation. Theme 2 explored how the guidance could be integrated into practice, supporting an individualised and patient-centred approach. Theme 3 explored the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the complex area of supporting children with overweight and obesity, and the need to focus on consistent evidence-based information.
Conclusion: The guidance was perceived as acceptable, relevant, and useful. GPs felt that evidence-based resources, like this, are needed to provide consistent and accurate information for children and parents with regards to the management of overweight and obesity.
Related
- Ensuring quality in research, 'Authorship Effect' & Conflict of Interest. Response submitted to BMJ Mental Health in response to 'Clinician perspectives on the utility and acceptability of OxSATS: a qualitative study of a novel structured suicide risk assessment tool
- Parental perspectives on clinician guidance in value-laden NICU conversations: a qualitative study.
- OP–093 Parental perceptions and approaches toward children in conflict with the law: a qualitative study from a pediatric nursing perspective
- Parental experiences of death preparedness at the end of life of their children: a qualitative meta-synthesis.
- Acceptability and feasibility of measles vaccination, small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplementation, and their co-delivery among children aged 6-23 months in northern Nigeria: a qualitative study
BibTeX
@article{twomey2026acceptability,
title = {{Acceptability and utility of parental guidance on weight talk with children for GPs: a qualitative study}},
author = {Billy Twomey and Fiona Gillison},
journal = {BJGP Open},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.3399/bjgpo.2025.0087},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpo.2025.0087},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Acceptability and utility of parental guidance on weight talk with children for GPs: a qualitative study
AU - Billy Twomey
AU - Fiona Gillison
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/03
JO - BJGP Open
DO - 10.3399/bjgpo.2025.0087
UR - https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpo.2025.0087
AB - Background: Childhood overweight and obesity rates are rising globally, yet many healthcare professionals and parents worry that raising the issue could harm children’s wellbeing. New, evidence-informed guidance for parents on constructive ways to talk to children about their weight has been created to address these concerns. GPs are important in providing and endorsing this guidance, as part of broader efforts to support families. Aim: To explore the acceptability and usability of this novel guidance from the perspective of general practice. Design & setting: A qualitative study with GPs in the Republic of Ireland. Method: Semi-structured interviews with practising GPs were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Results: Fifteen GPs (10 male, five female) participated. Three key themes were identified. Theme 1 explored how the guidance was deemed to be useful in overcoming perceived barriers to having conversations with parents about their child’s weight. Participants believed it would be effective in reducing stigma, promoting conversations and providing a framework to the consultation. Theme 2 explored how the guidance could be integrated into practice, supporting an individualised and patient-centred approach. Theme 3 explored the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the complex area of supporting children with overweight and obesity, and the need to focus on consistent evidence-based information. Conclusion: The guidance was perceived as acceptable, relevant, and useful. GPs felt that evidence-based resources, like this, are needed to provide consistent and accurate information for children and parents with regards to the management of overweight and obesity.
SN - 2398-3795
ER -