theme of role models. The key difference between these two themes is the first relates to information that is directly and intentionally meant to inform the children about healthy lifestyles in an institutional setting, while the second theme is typified by understandings that are formed through interactions with other people. Role models The application of knowledge gained through edu- cation is often facilitated by role models such as family members who reiterate this information through example. Role models play an important role in the concepts described by all the groups, for example, the older boys reported that their fathers helped encourage healthy behaviours, above and beyond the nutritional knowledge in the previous theme. *: Like sometimes on an afternoon my dad goes to the gym, then there is these tracks outside, and I practice every day on my 100 meter sprint and I can do it in 12 seconds, and when I started doing it I was 21 second, so I keep practicing. Boys year 6 This demonstrates some of the participants’ under- standings have developed by examples set for them by significant individuals in their lives. This is evident in the younger children’s understandings in a less explicit manner; the example below demonstrates good health behaviours can be established through everyday behaviour exhibited by role models. I: What about this one, walking to school? . . . Why is it good for you? *: Because me and my mam walk to school and its good. Girls reception There is some evidence that examples set to the girls who took part in this study, at home and by other role models, can encourage behaviours or ideals that are not beneficial to the girls health. Girls appear to look up to older female family members who aspire to be skinny. *: I like to be skinny, my nana does as well, and she wants to be skinny because she’s fat now but I still love her. Girls reception They also appear to have developed unrealistic ideas about weight loss and the consequences in terms of treatment. Viewing hospital treatment as a solution Children’s understandings’ of obesity to obesity, demonstrates a lack of understanding about the role of lifestyle behaviours in the condi- tion. This may also suggest that these participants don’t appreciate the importance of lifestyle beha- viours in the onset of obesity. *: Guess what, I seen this film right the boy was fat right, his legs was right down to the bottom, he had a fat tummy, I was hiding cos I hated him, he was horrible, he will have to go to hospital, he was fat. Girls reception I: So what would you tell somebody if you pretend that I was really, really fat, what would you tell me to do. *: Go to the doctors . . . hospital, operation. Girls reception There was some evidence that the older girls in this study had a more balanced outlook on what sort of body shape was healthiest, because they were aware of the negative health consequences associated with being underweight. It is interesting, however, that they are aware that maintaining a healthy lifestyle may be a challenge and this may result in a barrier to adopting healthier practices. I: What about the other end of the scale, you know if you’ve got overweight being fat on this side what about being underweight at this end? *: It’s bad cos you’re all bony and you can’t do anything cos you’re not strong enough, you’re weak. *: So you need to be in the middle. I: Is it easy to stay in the middle? *: No, because sometimes you can’t be bothered to eat well and exercise. Girls year 6 Within the theme of role models, there was some evidence of a difference between the genders in terms of available role models. The participating boys often cited football heroes as people whom they looked up to and aspired to be like. This highlights the role of the celebrity in providing a role model for today’s children; the evidence from the participants in this study may suggest that typically boys look to footballers and other sporting heroes. It can be argued that such individuals do not always provide a strong moral code; they are seen as following a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and exercise. It would seem that the female participants in this study often looked up to celebrities who weren’t so explicitly seen to be following healthy lifestyles, or Citation: Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 2011; 6: 7170 - DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v6i3.7170 7 (page number not for citation purpose)