PLoS ONE
Volume 12, Issue 5, 2017

Differences in perceived causes of childhood obesity between migrant and local communities in China: A qualitative study (Article) (Open Access)

Li B. , Lin R. , Liu W. , Chen J. , Cheng K. , Pallan M. , Adab P. , Jones L.
  • a Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • b Faculty of School Health, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • c Faculty of School Health, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; Faculty of School Health, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • d Research Office of Health Education, Guangzhou Health Care Promotion Centre for Primary and Middle Schools, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • e Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • f Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • g Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • h Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Abstract

In developing countries, obesity traditionally affectsmore affluent children, butis spreading to a wider social group. Understanding the perceivedcontributors can provide valuable insights to plan preventive interventions. We exploreddifferences in the perceived causes of childhood obesity between local and migrant communities in a major Chinese city. We conducted 20 focus groups (137 parents, grandparents, school teachers) and 11semi-structured interviews with school Principals from migrant and local communities in Guangzhou. Data were transcribed and analysed using a thematic approach. We found that Lack of influence from grandparents, who were perceived to promote obesogenic behaviorin local children, fewer opportunities for unhealthy snacking and less pressure for academic attainment leading to moreactive play were interpreted as potential "protective" factors among migrant children. Nevertheless, two perceived causes of obesity were more pronounced in migrant than local children: lack of parental monitoring after-school andunsafe neighborhoods limiting physical-activity. Two barriers that restricted child physical activity were only found in the migrant community: limited home space, and cultural differences, inhabitinginteractive play with local children. Future interventions should consider uniquedeterminants of obesity in children from different social backgrounds, with tailored strategies to prevent further rise of the epidemic. © 2017 Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

primary school physical activity information processing urban area perception China exercise developing country human middle aged feeding behavior Aged child behavior qualitative research interview Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Interviews as Topic male semi structured interview female Article major clinical study adult migration Transients and Migrants Pediatric Obesity childhood obesity Focus Groups child care child parent relation Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019951732&doi=10.1371%2fjournal.pone.0177505&partnerID=40&md5=a6fe0a27bab6e3a813c6e3a8dbb8d3de
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177505
ISSN: 19326203
Original Language: English