Familial health behavioral change in the context of adult treatment with obesity medications.

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity is a serious public health crisis in the United States, affecting millions of children annually and is associated with significant, long-term physical and psychological consequences. Family-based behavioral interventions have been shown to be effective in improving obesity-related outcomes in pediatric populations. However, there is limited insight into how adult participation in medical weight management programs may impact household health behaviors. This study explores parent perception of the impact of participation in weight management programs on child health behaviors.

METHODS

This is a qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews were conducted by trained personnel. Adult participants who were enrolled in a medical weight management clinic, had been prescribed obesity medication(s), and had at least one child aged 18 years old or younger living in the same household were included. Interviews were conducted between December 2024 and July 2025. Data analysis was guided through a thematic process; themes were discussed by the research group for consensus.

RESULTS

Ten interviews were conducted. Four themes emerged: (1) purposeful individual dietary choices, (2) acknowledgement of unintentional dietary changes in families secondary to program involvement, (3) consciousness of health behaviors across both individual and family levels, and (4) optimism regarding lifelong behavioral change despite concerns surrounding insurance coverage.

CONCLUSION

Parents perceived that participation in medical weight management programs positively impacted household health behaviors. Participants across family systems identified both conscious and unconscious behavioral changes. These findings suggest that parent participation in weight loss programs may have broader implications beyond individual health benefits, and household health dynamics should be considered when managing pediatric obesity.