Peer-reviewed article
"I thought I was normal" children's understanding of overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in chile.
Cecilia Prieto Bravo, Nicola Boydell, Linda Bauld, Jeni Harden ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study explored how 18 Chilean children aged 10-12 years who were clinically classified as overweight or obese understand their health, growth and weight. Using semi-structured interviews with visual tools like body silhouettes, researchers found that children interpret weight-related messages through emotional, social and cultural lenses rather than biomedical ones. The study shows that clinical encounters can increase body awareness and shame, and recommends that healthcare providers use non-stigmatising communication and value children's own perspectives.
Key points
- Children actively interpret and negotiate weight-related medical labels rather than passively accepting them
- Children use everyday language to soften or reframe clinical body labels like 'overweight' and 'obese'
- Clinical encounters can heighten body awareness, shame and the perception of bodies as 'unhealthy'
- Children's understanding of weight is shaped by emotional, social and cultural frames, not just biomedical information
- Healthcare providers should prioritise non-stigmatising communication and support wellbeing during growth and identity development
Limitations
This is a qualitative study with a small sample (18 children) from two municipalities in Santiago, so findings may not be generalizable to other settings or populations in Chile and beyond. The study does not measure whether interventions or changes to clinical practice actually reduce stigma or improve health outcomes for children.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity are prevalent in Chile and globally. Health care responses typically emphasise biomedical and risk-focused approaches, with limited attention to children's own perspectives. OBJECTIVE: This study explored how children clinically classified as overweight or obese understand health, growth and weight within health contexts. METHODS: Participants were recruited from primary care clinics in two municipalities in Santiago, Chile. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 18 children aged 10-12 years during COVID-19 restrictions, incorporating visual tools such as body silhouettes and body mapping to facilitate discussion. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: Translating Fatness: everyday words and the softening of body labels; Body shapes, shame, and the making of 'unhealthy' bodies; and Making Sense of Measurement: Receiving, Interpreting and Negotiating Medical Labels. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights that children actively interpret and negotiate weight-related messages, drawing on emotional, social, and cultural frames rather than biomedical ones. Clinical encounters can heighten body awareness and stigma. Clinical practice should prioritise non-stigmatising communication, value children's perspectives, and adopt approaches that support wellbeing during growth and identity development.