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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

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Parental perception of children's weight in a paediatric primary care setting

E R Wald1, L J Ewing, P Cluss

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital, Madison, WI 53792, USA. erwald@wisc.edu

Child: Care, Health and Development
|October 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Many parents of overweight children do not recognize their child

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Nutrition Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Accurate parental perception of a child's weight status is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Studies indicate a discrepancy between children's actual weight status and parental perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare parental perceptions of their children's weight status with objective body mass index (BMI) measurements.
  • To identify factors influencing parental recognition of overweight in children.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, cross-sectional study involving 3-12-year-old children.
  • Parental perceptions of weight, diet, and physical activity were assessed via questionnaires.
  • Body mass index (BMI) percentiles were used to classify children as at risk for overweight or overweight.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 15% of children were at risk for overweight and 22-24% were overweight.
  • Only 49% of parents accurately recognized their overweight children as overweight.
  • Correct perception was significantly higher for girls (63%) than boys (36%) and for older children (61.7%) compared to younger children (17.5%).

Conclusions:

  • A substantial number of parents underestimate or misperceive their overweight children's weight status.
  • Parental perception of child weight is influenced by the child's gender and age.
  • Interventions should target parental perception to improve childhood obesity management.
Abstract

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