'Healthy schools' and childhood obesity : provision and perspectives within an extended services cluster on psychsocial outcomes for children and young people who are overweight or obese

Research, policy and media discourses highlight risk of negative physical and non-physical outcomes for overweight/obese children compared with their non-overweight/obese peers. The study’s aim was to explore whether psychosocial correlates were being considered and informing policy and practice with regard to the ‘National Healthy Schools Programme’ (NHSP) within a cluster of schools, and with their community and strategic partners. Stakeholders’ perspectives including those of pupils were sought to illuminate whether, as a result of the NHSP, the potential risk of unintended harm was recognised and addressed. The research was conceptualized as an exploratory case study that primarily entailed the use of qualitative research methods for data collection and analysis. The findings of the study highlighted dominant socio-cultural practices that reinforce the ‘thin ideal’ and some of the risk potentiation and compensatory factors that could impact on outcomes for children. The dominance of the ‘physical’ themes of the NHSP reflected weakness in the operational delivery of a multidimensional rather than a fully integrated ‘holistic’ model of health and well-being. Recommendations for future research and practice include the future positioning of educational psychology practice and promoting meaningful consultation processes that ensure children’s perspectives are heard and listened to.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo