{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T06:04:56Z","timestamp":1790229896948,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790208000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Following the implementation of the Weight Management Year initiative in China, parents\u2019 knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding childhood weight management remain unclear. This study aimed to assess weight management-related KAP and the factors associated with weight management practices among parents of school-age children in Southwest China.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2025 among parents of school-age children in Southwest China. Parents completed a structured online questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics and KAP related to childhood weight management. Factors associated with poor weight management practices were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Mediation analysis was employed to examine the potential mediating role of attitudes in the pathway from weight management policy, and knowledge to practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Among the 572 participants, 76.2% were female and over half (51.9%) reported awareness of China\u2019s weight management policy. The mean scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 7.83\u202f\u00b1\u202f3.03 (range: 0\u201311), 34.81\u202f\u00b1\u202f5.46 (range: 13\u201345), and 43.14\u202f\u00b1\u202f6.38 (range: 21\u201355), respectively. Rural residence (aOR\u202f=\u202f1.69, 95% CI: 1.09\u20132.66), uncontrolled eating (aOR\u202f=\u202f1.70, 95% CI: 1.13\u20132.57), lack of awareness of China\u2019s 2024 weight management policy (aOR\u202f=\u202f1.98, 95% CI: 1.31\u20133.00), and negative attitudes (aOR\u202f=\u202f5.32, 95% CI: 3.45\u20138.28) were identified as significant correlates of poor weight management practices. Weight management attitudes mediated the effects of policy awareness (mediating proportion: 27.7%, 95% CI: 10.8\u201357.4) and knowledge (mediating proportion: 69.2, 95% CI: 36.4\u2013189.5) on practices.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions that go beyond merely disseminating weight management knowledge, and actively address and reshape parental attitudes\u2014particularly among rural residents, fathers, and children with overweight or obesity\u2014thus effectively translating national guidelines into improved weight management practices at the household level.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1907801","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T05:44:27Z","timestamp":1790228667000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of parents regarding childhood weight management and associated factors in Southwest China: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Liangjia","family":"Wei","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rufei","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wenjing","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiahao","family":"Lian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yang","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Min","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jianying","family":"Liao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rui","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shengkui","family":"Tan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Gastrointestinal Microecology Intelligent Biomedical Engineering Research Center,Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities","place":["Baise, Guangxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing children. Child Nutrition Report 2025","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"World Obesity Atlas 2024","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1115","DOI":"10.1007\/s12519-023-00709-7","article-title":"Trends of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents in China","volume":"19","author":"Hong","year":"2023","journal-title":"World J Pediatr"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1186\/s12933-020-01052-1","article-title":"Cardiovascular morbidity, diabetes and cancer risk among children and adolescents with severe obesity","volume":"19","author":"Bendor","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cardiovasc Diabetol"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-8587(22)00047-X","article-title":"Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management","volume":"10","author":"Jebeile","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-021-02936-1","article-title":"Obesity is a risk factor for central precocious puberty: a case-control study","volume":"21","author":"Liu","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Pediatr"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2145","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1703860","article-title":"Simulation of growth trajectories of childhood obesity into adulthood","volume":"377","author":"Ward","year":"2017","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1177","DOI":"10.1007\/s13300-025-01734-7","article-title":"Comprehending the epidemiology and Aetiology of childhood obesity: integrating life course approaches for prevention and intervention","volume":"16","author":"Verma","year":"2025","journal-title":"Diabetes Ther"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1186\/s13006-024-00659-4","article-title":"Beneficial effects of short-term breastfeeding versus non-breastfeeding in early life against childhood obesity: findings from the US-based population study NHANES","volume":"19","author":"Zhou","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int Breastfeed J"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1186\/s13148-025-02001-z","article-title":"Epigenetic mediation may explain intergenerational associations between maternal obesogenic lifestyle and children\u2019s birth weight: findings from the NorthPop prospective birth cohort","volume":"17","author":"De Silva","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin Epigenetics"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-023-03003-5","article-title":"Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, offspring epigenome-wide DNA methylation, and childhood obesity: findings from the Boston birth cohort","volume":"21","author":"Si","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31163","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-16402-w","article-title":"The role of parental health knowledge and practices in mitigating obesity risks among preschool children","volume":"15","author":"Hui","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1186\/s13690-025-01679-0","article-title":"Effects of parental-involved physical activity and nutrition interventions for young adolescents aged 10-13 years: a meta-analysis","volume":"83","author":"Robbins","year":"2025","journal-title":"Arch Public Health"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.2307\/1965827","article-title":"Analyst biases in KAP surveys: a cross-cultural comparison","volume":"7","author":"Ratcliffe","year":"1976","journal-title":"Stud Fam Plan"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-018-5531-5","article-title":"Assessment of the knowledge and attitude of infants' mothers from Bushehr (Iran) on food security using anthropometric indicators in 2016: a cross-sectional study","volume":"18","author":"Yeganeh","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"669","DOI":"10.1159\/000492795","article-title":"A study on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Iranian mothers towards childhood obesity","volume":"12","author":"Karimy","year":"2019","journal-title":"Obes Facts"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1834","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-23039-x","article-title":"Saudi fathers\u2019 perceptions of obesity, feeding practices, and promoting healthy eating in children: a cross-sectional study","volume":"25","author":"Aldolaim","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1660488","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1660488","article-title":"Governing for sustainable health: institutional pathways in China\u2019s sport and health policy (1949-present)","volume":"13","author":"Luo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13904","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.13904","article-title":"Health literacy and obesity: a systematic scoping review","volume":"26","author":"Upton","year":"2025","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3292","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-024-20677-5","article-title":"Beliefs underlying weight control behaviors among adolescents and emerging adults living with obesity: an elicitation qualitative study","volume":"24","author":"Lin","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4539","DOI":"10.21037\/apm-21-573","article-title":"Knowledge, attitude, and practice of obesity among university students","volume":"10","author":"Xue","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Palliat Med"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1615478","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1615478","article-title":"Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding body weight management among patients with overweight or obesity: a cross-sectional study","volume":"13","author":"Shi","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1830","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18041830","article-title":"A family-based lifestyle intervention focusing on fathers and their children using co-creation: study protocol of the run daddy run intervention","volume":"18","author":"Latomme","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2089","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-23381-0","article-title":"Family weight management in rural U.S. communities: a mixed methods study of parent and child perspectives","volume":"25","author":"Button","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1186\/1479-5868-10-4","article-title":"Change in the family food environment is associated with positive dietary change in children","volume":"10","author":"Hendrie","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"631678","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.631678","article-title":"Barriers to behavior change in parents with overweight or obese children: a qualitative interview study","volume":"12","author":"Ziser","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ypmed.2014.02.002","article-title":"Predictors of health-related behaviour change in parents of overweight children in England","volume":"62","author":"Park","year":"2014","journal-title":"Prev Med"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2012.11.016","article-title":"Predictors of parental perceptions and concerns about child weight","volume":"62","author":"Keller","year":"2013","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e13913","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.13913","article-title":"Exploring the perceptions of Chinese adults toward overweight and obesity: a systematic literature review","volume":"26","author":"Wang-Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1138","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13041138","article-title":"The influence of parental dietary behaviors and practices on children's eating habits","volume":"13","author":"Mahmood","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1186\/s41256-023-00291-5","article-title":"How does parents' social support impact children's health practice? Examining a mediating role of health knowledge","volume":"8","author":"Straughan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Glob Health Res Policy"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2321","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.02321","article-title":"Social implications of weight bias internalisation: parents' ultimate responsibility as consent, social division and resistance","volume":"10","author":"Noonan-Gunning","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4745","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18094745","article-title":"Healthy eating in low-income rural Louisiana parishes: formative research for future social marketing campaigns","volume":"18","author":"Fergus","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref34","author":"Bandura","year":"1986"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"783","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732319889354","article-title":"\"everything is perfect, and we have no problems\": detecting and limiting social desirability Bias in qualitative research","volume":"30","author":"Bergen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1907801\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T05:44:28Z","timestamp":1790228668000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1907801\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]]},"references-count":35,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1907801"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1907801","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]]},"article-number":"1907801"}}