Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Dr. Manoj Sharma

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a public health problem that can lead to various chronic health diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. School-based obesity prevention programs are a public health recommendation to reduce and prevent obesity in schools through increased physical activity and better nutritional habits. This qualitative research involved exploring the reason for the discontinuation of school-based interventions at home using multi-theory model (MTM) constructs for health behavior change. A convenience sample of three focus groups of consenting parents whose children participated in the Wolf Pack Coaches Challenge (WPCC), a school-based obesity prevention program in Nevada, was selected for this study. Discussion questions were derived from MTM constructs and directed content analysis was used with NVivo software to analyze collected data. Results revealed facilitators increased parental interaction and bonding with their children, encouraged positive behavior changes, and understanding of program materials. Time and financial constraints, poor communication, and difficulty adapting were barriers that parents faced at home. Parental involvement in the program, the need for more resources such as money, time, and experts, and information accessibility were addressed by participants in focus group sessions. Results justify the use of the MTM to understand parents’ perceptions and develop sustainable school-based interventions to prevent childhood obesity and advance social change in communities by encouraging policy changes to promote lifestyle behavior changes in schools, abate risk factors, and prevent disease.

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