Voeding en Opvoeding

Abstract

The governmental health service (GGD IJsselland) has been working several years to obesity prevention in Zwolle, mainly in two neighborhoods called Diezerpoort and Holtenbroek. The aim of the present study was to find out which possibilities professionals in these areas have to make supportive parenting part of their daily activities. In order to reach this aim a qualitative determinants analysis was done. Fourteen welfare workers and childhood nurses participated in this study. The interviews indicated that supportive parenting in healthy eating is just a small part of their daily work. The professionals find this subject important, but only if there are no other areas of attention. Even so professionals expect others to take the lead in this topic, they initially don’t feel responsible. Professionals experience some barriers when it comes to support parents. They said that they lack the accurate knowledge and that supporting parents isn’t their task. It was recommended to increase the knowledge of the professionals. It is also important to make a clear division between partners. And last but not least the taboo towards discussing healthy eating needs to be broken.