Concerns of parents about children's overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since the end of 2019, the world has been dealing with a new crisis caused by the widespread and global outbreak of the coronavirus that has affected various aspects of life. The stay-at-home orders issued to prevent the virus from spreading have caused many problems for families, such as obesity and overweight, particularly among children. As parents play a key role in the prevention of childhood obesity, the present qualitative study aimed to examine the experiences of parents regarding the obesity or overweight of their children during the outbreak of coronavirus. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was performed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The sampling method was purposeful, and the required data were collected through in-depth, unstructured, and face-to-face interviews with 16 parents of children with obesity or overweight. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman conventional content analysis approach. RESULTS: The findings were divided into five main themes, including overeating while stuck at home, leading to the sedentary life, disturbed sleep-wake rhythm of the children, indifference of the children towards their appearance, and the inability of parents to control the obesity of their children. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected families of children with obesity in various ways. The experiences of such parents provide new insight into parental struggles around managing their child's obesity particularly during such stressful times. IMPLICATIONS: An in-depth study of the experiences of the parents and perception of their challenges and concerns about childhood obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to the development of useful and effective strategies for the control of childhood obesity.