Table III.

Overall theme, themes and sub-themes describing Norwegian fathers’ experiences of preventing further weight gain while caring for their child with overweight or obesity.

Overall theme: Balancing between assuming and avoiding responsibility for weight management with a desire to preserve the child’s dignity
Sub-theme	Theme
Recognising their own food preferences and eating habits in their children	Alternating between concern, helplessness and responsibility
Struggling with their own feelings, shortcomings and discomfort
Worrying about the consequences on psychosocial health
A desire to help and protect
Lack of arenas for conversation	Needing acknowledgement, and flexible and tailored professional support
A need for inclusion and acknowledgement
Calling for flexibility and access to counselling and support