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Prospective BMI changes in preschool children are associated with parental characteristics and body weight

Yannis Manios1, Katrina A Lambert2, Eva Karaglani1

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, Kallithea 17671, Athens, Greece.

Public Health Nutrition
|April 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The ToyBox-study intervention did not change children's BMI percentile. However, parental misperception of weight status and parental overweight were linked to increased BMI percentile in preschoolers.

Area of Science:

  • Childhood obesity prevention
  • Public health interventions
  • Pediatric weight management

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing pediatric weight.
  • Parental factors play a critical role in children's weight status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of the ToyBox-study intervention on children's BMI percentile.
  • To explore the influence of perinatal factors and parental characteristics on changes in BMI percentile.
  • To identify key parental perceptions associated with pediatric weight changes.

Main Methods:

  • A multicomponent, kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention with a cluster-randomised design.
  • Standardised measurement of children's body weight and height.
  • Validated questionnaires for parental/caregiver data collection.
  • Linear mixed-effects models were employed for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

  • The intervention showed no significant effect on changes in children's BMI percentile.
  • Parental underestimation of children's weight status was associated with increased BMI percentile.
  • Parental overweight and maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity independently predicted increases in children's BMI percentile.

Conclusions:

  • Assisting parents in accurately perceiving their children's weight status is vital for public health and counseling programs.
  • Improved parental weight perception can enhance motivation for behavioral changes within families.
  • Addressing parental weight status is important for effective childhood obesity prevention strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
LifestylePerinatalPreschool

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