Parent-based prevention after parental weight loss surgery: a pilot case-series trial

Overeating and obesity are elevated in children of parents who have undergone weight loss surgery. Parents who have undergone weight loss surgery often report their personal history of obesity interferes with their knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in developing their children’s healthy habits, thus reducing the likelihood of addressing obesogenic environmental factors. This study examines whether a 6-session parent-based prevention after bariatric surgery online intervention is feasible and acceptable for parents. The study also explores the program’s signal of efficacy in improving short-term outcomes related to decreased long-term risks for obesity by examining short-term impact on targeted parental cognitions, feeding practices, and child eating behaviors and physical activity habits. University Hospital, United States. Parents were recruited using flyers, clinician referrals, and social media. Measures assessed parental feeding practices, children’s eating behaviors, daily hours of screen time, and outdoor play. Ten families enrolled and 7 completed the study. Parents found the intervention relevant and suitable for addressing their parenting concerns. Parental feeding behaviors, such as restriction and pressure to eat, reduced while tracking of sweets and high-fat snacks increased. Children reduced both emotional overeating and undereating. Children’s daily hours of screen time reduced as well as their outdoor play time. Parent-based prevention after bariatric surgery aimed at helping parents who have undergone weight loss surgery engineer healthier family lifestyles is feasible, acceptable, and associated with reduced obesogenic risk factors.