Weighing the Impact: How do Australian families interpret and respond to population messaging about obesity, weight loss and physical activity?

Anti-obesity messages are everywhere - on our television and computer screens, our bus stops and supermarket trolleys. They come from government, NGOs and commercial industry, and give at times conflicting advice about the impacts of 'fat' and solutions for avoiding it. But we have very limited understanding of how these messages actually influence individuals' attitudes and behaviours. Based on interviews with 150 families, we investigate how adults and adolescents interpret and respond to the weight based messages that they are exposed in their everyday lives. This information will be used to develop key practical messaging strategies around weight and wellbeing that resonate with the experiences and needs of different groups.