Effects of parent-only childhood obesity prevention programs on BMIz and body image in rural preteens

•Parent-only obesity prevention interventions can improve BMIz of 8–12 yo children.•Some aspects of child body image were improved after the parent-only interventions.•Child overweight dissatisfaction was reduced more in the face-to-face intervention.•Many child body image changes resulting from both interventions were gender-specific.•BMIz scores were positively associated with child body image concerns in both genders. This experiment compared body image (BI) and BMI changes resulting from two parent-only obesity prevention interventions aimed at 8–12 year olds. Parents in the experimental intervention attended ten face-to-face educational sessions, while parents in the minimal (control) intervention received similar mailed information. Parent-child dyads (N=150) were semi-randomly assigned to intervention groups. Children were assessed before, after, and 6 months following the interventions; children did not attend experimental intervention sessions. Child BI assessments included weight and size perception, weight management goals, body esteem, and appearance attitudes. Significant effects included small decreases in BMIz scores and overweight dissatisfaction, as well as improvements in aspects of body esteem and appearance attitudes. Some BI effects were gender-specific. Decreases in overweight dissatisfaction were greater following the experimental treatment. Neither treatment reduced body size misperception. Thus, parent-only obesity prevention interventions can reduce body weight and body image concerns among rural preteens.