Childhood obesity has become a global and a public health concern. Although we are aware that there are several factors that predispose to the disease (biological, economic, personal, social, cultural and familial), the general objective of this research was focused on understanding the elements present in children with a family history of obesity. The participants were six mothers and one grandmother of children aged between 8-10 years old, who were in attendance in an outpatient clinic of reference for childhood obesity in Recife. An interview with previously established routine was used, and later the results were analyzed based on the thematic content analysis. It can be concluded that the families showed lack of cohesion about the food standards and limits to the child, familial and conjugal conflicts, and difficulties in adapting the environment to the assistance requested by the professionals.
Obesity in children; Body weight; Eating disorders; Family relations