What parents know and want to learn about healthy eating and body image in preschool children: A triangulated qualitative study with parents and Early Childhood Professionals

Abstract

Background: Interventions for parents to encourage healthy eating in children often do not address parental feeding practices and body image development. Methods: The current study investigated what parents (of children aged 1-6 years) understand about child healthy eating and body image, and what they would like in future interventions, by using structured focus groups with parents, and individual interviews with Early Childhood Professionals. Forty three parents (M age = 36.95 years, 93 % female, 79 % university degree) participated across 9 focus groups. Eleven Early Childhood Professionals (M age = 51.04, 100 % female, 64 % university degree, 64 % Maternal and Child Health Nurses, 36 % C..