Healthy Eating for Obese Children From Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Families: Its Ecological Factors and Strategies

Abstract

Introduction: Researchers explored the meanings of “eating” for obese children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families and identified multilevel factors and strategies for their healthy eating based on ecological perspectives. Methodology: Grounded on a qualitative research design, focus group interviews were conducted with each group of key stakeholders: obese children, their mothers, and social workers from public welfare systems in South Korea. Results: “Eating” and “healthy eating” were defined as “fulfilling deprivations” and “integrating balance into their lives,” respectively. Eight factors and four strategies for their healthy eating were identified at intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and community/political levels. Discussion: These findings may help nurses in Western culture understand the cultural context of obese children’s eating embedded in socioeconomically disadvantaged families and public welfare systems in Asian culture. Furthermore, these findings provide specific guides to culturally relevant, multilevel strategies for promoting healthy eating in the field of childhood obesity prevention.