Family functioning in childhood obesity and dyslipidemia: analysis from a portuguese context

Abstract

Children’s eating behaviors are influenced by family behavior, producing a relationship between childhood obesity and obesity in adulthood. It is, therefore, important to identify the underlying risk factors for intervention in the context of childhood obesity and dyslipidemia consultation (CODC). This study aims to characterize overweight or obese children and their families from a sociodemographic, developmental, and axiological point of view, and to understand the family functioning of the users; to assess the relationships between the domains of family functioning and the sociodemographic, physiological, and axiological variables; and to assess the differences between the family functioning of overweight and obese children from the CODC of a University Hospital. Thirty-one families participated, with 20 children diagnosed with obesity and seven with overweight. There are significant differences between the family functioning of participants under study and the normative values (greater capacity of the first group at the level of Problem Solving and Affective Responsiveness). Also, differences between boys and girls were observed. The results highlight the need for greater awareness of all family members, not only of the child’s current weight status, but also of the consequences of excess weight and benefits of weight loss.