Parents addressing their own weight at a commercial weight management programme reported indirect benefits on their children's diet and physical activity, and were particularly motivated to help their child reach or maintain a healthy weight.
Improving health and dissatisfaction with appearance were the most common motivators for parents to address their own weight.
The majority of parents already worried about their child's weight reported increased motivation to help their child reach a healthier weight after taking steps to address their own weight.
Parents primarily assessed their child's weight through clothing size and visual comparison with peers rather than by weighing.
Concern about a child's weight increased with parental BMI and child age.
Since parents began addressing their own weight, nearly half reported their child's diet had become healthier and over a quarter reported their child was more physically active.
The authors concluded that targeted, child-oriented interventions delivered when parents are addressing their own weight may enhance the indirect benefits observed in children.
This research suggests that when parents join a weight management programme for themselves, it can have positive ripple effects on their children's health behaviors. In a study of UK Slimming World members who had children aged 5 to 11 years old, nearly half of parents (48%) reported their child was eating more healthily since they started working on their own weight, and over a quarter (27%) said their child had become more physically active. Parents who were already worried about their child's weight were particularly motivated to help — 67% said they felt more motivated to support their child toward a healthier weight after taking steps to address their own. The study also found that parents tend to judge their child's weight by how clothes fit or by comparing their child's appearance to other children, rather than by weighing them or using medical measures like BMI. Concern about a child's weight was higher among parents with a higher BMI themselves and when children were older. Parents were often driven to address their child's weight by their own negative experiences related to weight during their lives, as well as health concerns for their child. This research suggests that commercial adult weight management programmes could be an important entry point for improving children's health as well, since parents in these programmes appear highly motivated to make changes for their whole family. The authors suggest that adding targeted, child-friendly support or resources at this point — when parents are already engaged and motivated — could help maximize the benefits for children.
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Upload Your LabsMears R, Sharp D, Searle A, Salway R, Hamilton-Shield J. (2026). Effect of parent attendance at an adult commercial weight management programme on their children.. BMJ paediatrics open. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2025-004417