Overweight in Childhood and Family Interactions: A Complex Pattern

Abstract

This study aimed to understand obese children’s interpersonal interactions in family and social contexts. A qualitative methodology of research was used and the methodological and theoretical support was based on the systemic theory. The following tools were applied: interviews, genogram technique and drawings regarding body image. The subjects of the research were children and their relatives (parents and siblings) attended by the Pediatric Nutrition Service at the Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The analysis showed the following relevant contents among children’s perceptions: family secrets regarding the stories of parental characters origins; distant relationship of the parents in relation to the children; transgenerational phenomena in their biologic and symbolic aspects of obesity in three generations of the studied family groups; family myths and loyalties, which supported the obesity identity in the family group. These indicators helped to understand the difficulties of the process of differentiation of these children, that is, the possibility that losing weight may be seen as a threat to their identity process in the family groups. This study shows the importance of contextualizing obesity in childhood, shifting the focus away from the child’s self-responsibility and widening it to encompass the social/ family context, highlighting the interdisciplinary action as a relevant professional approach to treat obesity in children.