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<p>Childhood obesity is traditionally framed through the lens of parental underestimation, a perspective that conceptualizes awareness as a binary state of recognition or denial. However, emerging evidence suggests that parental recognition may be better understood as a dynamic, non-linear continuum. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of parents who have attained weight awareness, specifically examining the emotional and contextual barriers they experience when responding to their child’s weight status. Using constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 parents (78% mothers) of children aged 4–10 living with overweight or obesity (body mass index &gt; 85th percentile). Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Two central themes emerge: (1) parents’ multidimensional concern for their child’s physical, mental, and social well-being, where they struggle to balance health interventions with protecting the child’s self-esteem; and (2) efforts to cope with hurtful comments and weight-related stigma. The findings reveal that what is often labeled “denial” frequently functions as a defensive emotional containment strategy to manage overwhelming anxiety and “stigma by association”. Furthermore, recognition is viewed not as a static event but as an ongoing process shaped by a shared family emotional climate. Interventions should shift away from blaming parents for “misperceptions”, focusing instead on reducing guilt, mitigating systemic stigma, and empowering parents to support their child’s health with resilience.</p>

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Between Concern and Containment: Parents’ Experiences and Emotional Journeys in the Context of Childhood Obesity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月11日

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  • Zohar Spivak Lavi,
  • Tamar Darvish,
  • Dalit Borochowitz Yassour,
  • Yael Latzer

摘要

Childhood obesity is traditionally framed through the lens of parental underestimation, a perspective that conceptualizes awareness as a binary state of recognition or denial. However, emerging evidence suggests that parental recognition may be better understood as a dynamic, non-linear continuum. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of parents who have attained weight awareness, specifically examining the emotional and contextual barriers they experience when responding to their child’s weight status. Using constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 parents (78% mothers) of children aged 4–10 living with overweight or obesity (body mass index > 85th percentile). Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Two central themes emerge: (1) parents’ multidimensional concern for their child’s physical, mental, and social well-being, where they struggle to balance health interventions with protecting the child’s self-esteem; and (2) efforts to cope with hurtful comments and weight-related stigma. The findings reveal that what is often labeled “denial” frequently functions as a defensive emotional containment strategy to manage overwhelming anxiety and “stigma by association”. Furthermore, recognition is viewed not as a static event but as an ongoing process shaped by a shared family emotional climate. Interventions should shift away from blaming parents for “misperceptions”, focusing instead on reducing guilt, mitigating systemic stigma, and empowering parents to support their child’s health with resilience.