Food for thought: Children’s views on the psychological aspects of childhood obesity

Abstract

This paper reports a small-scale research project to elicit children’s views on the psychological aspects of childhood obesity to inform multi-agency interventions and contribute to the Every Child Matters outcomes. The study was conducted in the south-west of England. Participants were children from a Year 5 class (age 9 to 10 years) who attended a school in an area of high socio-economic disadvantage. Findings suggest that the children’ views were influenced by cultural messages construing obesity negatively, whilst participants personally aspired to social norms. Participants viewed obesity as a within-child factor related to choice and limited self-control. However, their general stance was one of acceptance and empathy to minimise and protect obese children from stigmatising effects. The need for multiple-level interventions at child, systems and cultural levels is noted in order to reduce obesogenic environments and create supportive environments conducive to healthier lifestyles.