Start date: January 2025 | Expected completion date: Autumn 2025 | Contact: Theo Lorenc
What do we want to know?
A wide range of interventions and policies have been implemented in the UK and elsewhere to reduce obesity and overweight among children. Weight stigma, weight-based bullying and body dissatisfaction are also increasingly recognised to be public health concerns. There is a need to understand how children view obesity and body weight in general, in order to better plan policy responses and mitigate any adverse effects.
Who wants to know?
This independent research report was commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Policy Research Programme for the Department of Health and Social Care. The findings may be of interest topolicymakers, teachers and other school staff, and parents.
What is the research question?
What is known from qualitative studies from the UK about how children aged 4-12 perceive body size, shape or weight?
How will we answer this question?
We are conducting a systematic review of qualitative studies from the UK published since 2008. The review will include any studies reporting views of obesity, body size or weight from children aged between 4 and 12.
