The Effect of Parent-Targeted Obesity Messaging on Parental Weight Talk Intention

A Randomized Controlled Experiment

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21616618
AutoresEllen V Pudney (0000-0002-7197-5783, Old Dominion University, autor de correspondencia), Rebecca M Puhl (0000-0003-2340-2486, University of Connecticut), Marlene B Schwartz (0000-0002-8939-1954, University of Connecticut), Linda C Halgunseth (0000-0003-3137-258X, Michigan State University)
Año2025
Volumen40
Número6
Páginas1041-1052
Fecha de publicación2025-05-12
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Communication (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1041-0236 • E-ISSN: 1532-7027
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10410236.2024.2386212
PMID39169856
OpenAlexW4401727670
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas61

It is unknown if parent-targeted health messages about childhood obesity affect parental weight communication with children (e.g., encouraging a child to diet). This randomized, controlled, online experiment assessed the effects of exposure to different message frames on parental intentions to 1) engage in weight communication with their child and, 2) follow the health advice in the message. A diverse sample of U.S. parents (N = 452) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: 1) a mock news article emphasizing childhood obesity (weight-framed message) with health behavior advice for parents; 2) an article with identical health behavior advice for parents, but framed within the context of improving children’s school performance (school-framed message); and 3) a no-treatment control group. Following message exposure, parents completed online surveys assessing their intention to engage in weight communication and the recommended health behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between experimental condition and the outcome variables. Parents in the weight-frame condition were significantly more likely to report intention to engage in weight communication with their child than parents in the control group, while there was no difference between the school-frame condition and the control group. Parents in both message conditions were equally likely to report intention to adopt the health advice, but parental weight-based self-stigma moderated the relationships. Parent-targeted health advice that features childhood obesity may encourage parents to engage in weight communication with their children. Our findings can inform the development of health messages targeting parents about children’s weight-related health

Childhood obesity · Developmental psychology · Health communication · Obesity · Overweight · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Communication · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Psychology · Social Psychology