Amy L. Fielden et al. works constantly to maintain energy balance to keep the body at a constant weight. This system has not yet adapted to the world in which we currently live because the pace of technological progress has surpassed evolution resulting in a more sedentary lifestyle (Department of Innovation Universities and Skills, 2007). One surprising feature of the geogra- phical distribution of obesity is its increased pre- valence in economically and socially deprived areas in the western world, including the focus of this current piece of research, the United Kingdom. This phenomenon is very much a recent development, because historically deprived areas tended to see higher levels of under-nutrition. Brunt, Lester, Davies, and Williams (2008) illustrate how this situation has now reversed. They found between 1995 and 2005 the gap between obesity levels in the most deprived areas compared to the least (the latter typically having the higher levels) was steadily closing, and that by 2005 obesity levels in the most deprived areas had overtaken those in the least deprived areas, a phenomena that persists today. The Childhood Measurement Programme (De- partment of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008) demonstrated Sunder- land in the north-east of England has some of the highest levels of overweight and obese children in the United Kingdom. This same publication also points out the strong positive correlation between areas considered as deprived and levels of obesity in children in Reception (4 5 year olds) and Year 6 (10 11 year olds). Areas of Sunderland are considered to be economically and socially deprived meaning the children who live there can be considered high risk. The statistics relating to Sunderland, where this study took place, demonstrate that 27.8% of Reception- aged children are either overweight or obese and for Year 6 pupils this rises to 38.4%. The Foresight Report (Department of Innovation Universities and Skills, 2007), tackling obesity, points out that current policies are failing because they do not provide the depth and range of inter- ventions needed. This might lead to positive inter- ventions being ineffective if they are undermined by other areas in society such as social factors and the power of media advertising. The government launched its Healthy Schools Initiative in 2005; however, there has been no substantial reduction in obesity levels since 2005 (Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2008). With this in mind it would seem timely to approach the problem from a different perspective. Effective policies to tackle obesity need to consider all parties involved. However, current policies have been formed using a top down approach i.e., from government, health and education professionals, and even celebrity chefs! Even though these groups are likely to have a broad understanding of the problem from its roots to the long-term consequences, there has been a notable failure to take into consideration the understandings of the individuals at highest risk of obesity, the children themselves. There is growing evidence that interventions incorporating the views of the target population have a greater level of success (Hesketh, Water, Green, Salmon, & Williams, 2005). In the United Kingdom there has been a strong movement to ensure the inclusion of children in decision making, particularly in relation to issues that directly affect them such as education, social care, and health (Department of Health, 2002; Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills, 2004). The collection and dissemination of the understandings of children relating to obesity could provide an insight into why so many strategies are failing. This in turn could lead to the development of policies that can be delivered to provide more successful outcomes. There is a clear shortage of research examining children’s understandings’ of obesity, the studies that have attempted to explore this domain have focused on exploring parent and care giver percep- tions (Young-Hyman, Herman, Scott, & Schlundt, 1999), and the understandings of health profes- sionals (Chamberlin, Sherman, Jain, Powers, & Whitaker, 2002). More recently studies have con- sidered the understandings of care givers, health professionals, and teachers alongside those of the children themselves (Borra, Kelly, Shirreffs, Neville, & Geiger, 2003; Hesketh et al., 2005). Studies that have examined children’s understanding have been focused on body image, overweight versus under- weight (Hill & Silver, 1995), and peer perceptions of overweight and eating behaviour (Bell & Morgan, 2000; Oliver & Thelen, 1996), but not on the understandings’ of the children themselves with regards to the causes and consequences of obesity. Focus groups have proved to be a particularly useful method for collecting data from children, they are most effective with groups of three children and in situations where the children know and like each other. Groups must be carefully selected to ensure the children are comfortable with each other. Talking together in small groups is familiar territory for children because it simulates class work. This method allows the researcher to structure the discu- ssion around themes or topics rather than direct questions. This in turn enables the children to take control of the discussion (Mauthner, 1997) with the researcher present to keep things on track. Conduct- ing group discussions in single sex groups can also prove to be more successful because boys are often louder and more willing to talk and this can mean they 2 (page number not for citation purpose) Citation: Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 2011; 6: 7170 - DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v6i3.7170