Long-term food stamp program participation is differentially related to overweight in young girls and boys

This paper examines the relation between long-term Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation and overweight in children using data on children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Child Sample. A child was categorized as overweight if his or her BMI was >/= the 95th percentile of sex- and age-specific BMI. The data were arranged as a panel with multiple observations per child, and the preferred models of overweight included long-term FSP participation, additional demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental characteristics, and child fixed effects. Child fixed effects were used to take into account unobserved differences across children that did not vary over time. The models were estimated separately for younger (5-11 y old) and older (12-18 y old) children. In Ordinary Least Squares models, long-term FSP participation was positively and significantly related to overweight in young girls (P = 0.048), and negatively and significantly related to overweight in young boys (P = 0.100). Compared with girls and boys whose families did not participate in the FSP during the previous 5 y, FSP participation during all of the previous 5 y was associated with a 42.8% increase for young girls and a 28.8% decrease for young boys in the predicted probability of overweight. Long-term FSP participation was not significantly related to overweight in older children. Although these models did not control for food insecurity, the potential role of food insecurity in FSP participation was considered in the interpretation of the relation between FSP participation and child weight.     

Childhood Asthma and Extreme Values of Body Mass Index: The Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative

To examine the association between body mass index (BMI) percentile and asthma in children 2-11 years of age, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of 853 Black and Hispanic children from a community-based sample of 2- to 11-year olds with measured heights and weights screened for asthma by the Harlem Children's Zone Asthma Initiative. Current asthma was defined as parent/guardian-reported diagnosis of asthma and asthma-related symptoms or emergency care in the previous 12 months. Among girls, asthma prevalence increased approximately linearly with increasing body mass index (BMI) percentile, from a low of 12.0% among underweight girls (BMI 95th percentile). After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and household smoking, among girls, having asthma was associated with being at risk for overweight (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-5.0) and being overweight (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.8) compared to normal weight; among boys, having asthma was associated both with overweight (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.3) and with underweight (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.7). Large, prospective studies that include very young children are needed to further explore the observed association between underweight and asthma among boys. Early interventions that concomitantly address asthma and weight gain are needed among pre-school and school-aged children.     

Probability of adult overweight and risk change during the BMI rebound period

OBJECTIVE: To develop a probability chart of adult overweight based on childhood body mass index (BMI) values and to evaluate the BMI change during the BMI rebound period during childhood, in different populations, with the use of risk function curves. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A longitudinal growth study of 3650 full-term healthy Swedish children followed from birth to 18 years of age. Weight and height values of our subjects were obtained. RESULTS: A probability chart for reaching a BMI > 23 kg/m(2) at 18 years of age was constructed for boys and girls. For example, a BMI of 18 kg/m(2) at 4 years of age is associated with 0.70 probability of attaining a BMI > 23 kg/m(2) at 18 years of age in boys; a BMI of 16 kg/m(2) at 4 years of age leads to 0.40 probability of having a BMI > 23 kg/m(2) at 18 years of age in girls. Children with an obvious BMI rebound before 8 years of age have a high risk of being overweight at 18 years of age. There is a clear trend of BMI increase from the 1970s to the 1990s in U.S. children from a parallel dataset, and Hispanic children are at the highest risk of adult overweight. DISCUSSION: The probability chart for adult overweight developed here provides a functional method of defining childhood obesity that is based on the risk of long-term ill health rather than on a certain statistical cut-off point. It will help pediatricians or healthcare workers identify those children who are at a high risk of becoming overweight in adulthood, which will allow clinical intervention at younger ages.     

Weight status in childhood as a predictor of becoming overweight or hypertensive in early adulthood

OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent to which weight status in childhood or adolescence predicts becoming overweight or hypertensive by young adulthood. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We conducted a prospective study of 314 children, who were 8 to 15 years old at baseline, and were followed up 8 to 12 years later. Weight, height, and blood pressure were measured by trained research staff. Incident overweight was defined as BMI>or=25 kg/m2 among participants who had not been overweight as children. RESULTS: More male subjects (48.3%) than female subjects (23.5%) became overweight or obese between their first childhood visit and the young adult follow-up (p<0.001). Being in the upper one half of the normal weight range (i.e., BMI between the 50th and 84th percentiles for age and gender in childhood) was a good predictor of becoming overweight as a young adult. Compared with children with a BMI<50th percentile, girls and boys between the 50th and 74th percentiles of BMI were approximately 5 times more likely [boys, odds ratio (OR)=5.3, p=0.002; girls, OR=4.8, p=0.07] and those with a BMI between the 75th and 84th percentiles were up to 20 times more likely (boys, OR=4.3, p=0.02; girls, OR=20.2, p=0.001) to become overweight. The incidence of high blood pressure was greater among the male subjects (12.3% vs. 1.9%). Compared with boys who had childhood BMI below the 75th percentile, boys between the 75th and 85th percentiles of BMI as children were four times more likely (OR=3.6) and those at above the 85th percentile were five times more likely (OR=5.1) to become hypertensive. DISCUSSION: High normal weight status in childhood predicted becoming overweight or obese as an adult. Also, among the boys, elevated BMI in childhood predicted risk of hypertension in young adulthood.     

SNAP Participation in Preschool‐Aged Children and Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity

BACKGROUND: An increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for adults on government‐funded nutrition assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been observed; however, this association among preschool‐aged children is not well understood. Longitudinal research designs tracking changes in body mass index‐for‐age (BMI) in children of low‐income households may provide a clearer picture of the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity among this age group. To determine if there is a relationship between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity prevalence in low‐income, preschool children, we conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of children in a Head Start program, and a longitudinal analysis of those children who were enrolled for 2 years. METHODS: Height and weight data and SNAP participation of 386 students (207 male, 179 female, 4.2 ± 0.5 years) enrolled in a Head Start program were analyzed; data for 2 years were available for 167 of the students. Height and weight measures were used to determine BMI percentile per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. SNAP participation was obtained through a nutritional questionnaire given to parents at time of Head Start Program enrollment. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between SNAP and non‐SNAP participants for BMI percentile in either the cross‐sectional or longitudinal analysis. BMI percentile increased for both groups over time, but failed to reach significance (p = .13). CONCLUSION: Future studies are warranted with an inclusion of a larger and more geographically diverse sample to further determine the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity in preschool‐aged children.     

Racial differences in the tracking of childhood BMI to adulthood

OBJECTIVE: The possibility that there are racial differences in the patterns of BMI (kilograms per meter squared) change throughout life has not been examined. For example, the high prevalence of obesity among black women could result from a higher prevalence of obesity among black girls or because normal-weight black girls experience larger BMI increases in adolescence or adulthood than do their white counterparts. Therefore, we examined the tracking of childhood BMI into adulthood in a biracial (36% black) sample. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Five- to 14-year-old children (2392) were followed for (mean) 17 years. Childhood overweight was defined as BMI > or = 95th percentile, and adult obesity was defined as BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2). RESULTS: The tracking of childhood BMI differed between whites and blacks. Among overweight children, 65% of white girls vs. 84% of black girls became obese adults, and predictive values among boys were 71% (whites) vs. 82% (blacks). These racial differences reflected contrasting patterns in the rate of BMI change. Although the initial BMI of black children was not higher than that of white children, BMI increases with age were larger among black girls and overweight black boys than among their white counterparts. In contrast, relatively thin (BMI < 50th percentile) white boys were more likely to become overweight adults than were their black counterparts. DISCUSSION: These findings emphasize the black/white differences in BMI changes with age. Because of the adult health consequences of childhood-onset obesity, early prevention should be given additional emphasis.     

上海市2000-2014年中小学生体质量指数变化趋势

了解2000-2014年上海市学龄儿童青少年体质量指数(BMI)的变化趋势,为儿童青少年超重、肥胖判别标准研制及预防干预提供参考.方法 选取2000,2005,2010,2014年4次全国学生体质与健康调研中7~18岁儿童青少年作为研究对象.应用最小均方(Least Mean Square,LMS)法探讨不同性别、年龄组儿童青少年BMI的变化趋势.结果 14年间学生BMI P85低年龄组差异比较小,随年龄增加差异逐渐增大,青春期后有减小的趋势,男生平均增加2.1百分点,女生平均增加1.3百分点.学生BMI增长主要集中在中等和高百分位数,尤其是P90后,差值逐渐增大.7~11,12~15岁男生在P5o后差值均逐渐增大,P95分别达2.0,3.2百分点,其中12岁男生从23.4 kg/m2增加到26.8 kg/m2,14岁女生从24.0 kg/m2增加到25.9 kg/m2.与WGOC标准相比,2014年男生BMI P85,P95均较高,而女生BMI P85 10岁之前高于WGOC标准,从11岁开始与WGOC标准基本相一致.2014年上海市7~18岁儿童青少年超重、肥胖检出率分别为15.4%,9.1%,较2000年总体均呈上升趋势,分别上升6.4,5.2百分点.结论 BMI分布高百分位的个体比低百分位个体的变化更大.在肥胖防治工作中,加强对群体BMI曲线的监测分析,对适时调整宏观调控战略意义重大.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Costa Rican elementary school children.

OBJECTIVE: Given that excessive body weight during childhood influences the development of several chronic diseases in adulthood, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban and rural Costa Rican elementary school children. METHODS: The study was carried out from July 2000 to April 2001. A total of 1 718 students ages 7-12 were selected from 34 schools in the capital city of San José and in other nearby urban and rural areas. Both younger children (ones aged 7 through 9 years) and older children (ones aged 10 through 12 years) with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the sex-specific 85th percentile were considered overweight. The younger children were classified as being obese if their triceps skinfold was greater than or equal to the 85th percentile for age and sex using the percentiles by age for children in the United States of America as normative standards. The older children were considered obese if they had a BMI at or above the sex-specific 85th percentile and both the triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness at or above the 90th percentile. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 34.5%. Children aged 7-9, boys, children from urban areas, and children of a higher socioeconomic status had a higher prevalence of overweight. The prevalence of obesity was 26.2%. A higher prevalence of obesity was found among children aged 7-9, boys, children from urban areas, and children of middle socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of obesity that we found in the Costa Rican children, primary and secondary prevention measures are needed in order to reduce the proportion of deaths due to chronic nontransmissible diseases among Costa Rican adults in the coming decades.     

Association between overweight or obesity and household income and parental body mass index in Australian youth: analysis of the Australian National Nutrition Survey, 1995

This study is a secondary data analysis based on the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey (NNS). A random subsample of 1581 school children aged 7-15 years old from the NNS was studied. The results show the prevalence of overweight, obesity and combined overweight and obesity was 10.6-20.9%, 3.7-7.2% and 15.6-25.7%, respectively. The odds ratio of overweight or obese boys with highest household income was significantly smaller than those with the lowest household income. The proportion of combined overweight and obesity in children whose parents were overweight or obese was significantly greater compared with those whose parents were not. The trend of increasing prevalence of overweight or obesity among children with increasing parental body mass index (BMI) was significant after adjusting for age except the trend of father's BMI for boys. This study provided baseline data on the recent prevalence of overweight or obesity of Australian school children using new international absolute BMI cut-off points. It indicated that young school girls (7-9 years) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with boys, the prevalence rates of overweight or obesity in older boys (13-15 year) was significantly greater than in other age groups while in girls it was the opposite. The boys with lowest household income ($0-17 500) were more likely to be overweight or obese compared with those with the highest household income (greater than $67 500). Having parents especially mothers who were overweight or obese may increase the risk of children being overweight or obese.     

Die Verbreitung von Übergewicht und Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland

Overweight and obesity are an increasing problem: worldwide, for Germany and for children and adolescents. Until now there have been no representative and age-specific assessments of the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in Germany. Thus, the standardised height and weight measurements gathered in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) have, for the first time, provided national, representative data about overweight and obesity in young people. The terms 'overweight' and 'obese' are defined based on percentiles of the body mass index (BMI) of the Kromeyer-Hauschild reference system. Of children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 17, 15% exceed the 90th BMI percentile of the reference data and are thus overweight, 6.3% exceed the 97th BMI percentile and thus suffer from obesity by this definition. The proportion of overweight rises from 9% of 3-6-year-olds to 15% of 7-10-year-olds and 17% of 14-17-year-olds. The prevalence of obesity is 2.9%, 6.4% and 8.5% for the same age groups respectively. No clear differences between boys and girls or between East and West Germany are detected. Children are at a higher risk of being overweight or obese if they have a lower socioeconomic status, have a migration background, or have mothers who are also overweight.     

儿童超重和肥胖与骨龄发育的相关性研究

目的 分析骨龄与年龄的差值(BAD)在不同年龄儿童的分布特点,探讨超重和肥胖儿童骨龄发育异常的相关性。方法 对2010年1月-2020年12月在首都儿科研究所附属儿童医院保健门诊体检的21 699名6~18岁儿童进行体格评价和中国人手腕骨发育标准(CHN)法骨龄评估。以WHO推荐的界值点将体重指数(BMI)分为正常组、超重组和肥胖组。比较BAD在不同年龄不同营养状况儿童的分布特点,探讨超重肥胖儿童骨龄提前的关键时点。结果 就诊儿童以6～12岁学龄期儿童为主。男童占48.6%,女童占51.4%。正常、超重和肥胖儿童BAD>1的检出率比较,差异均具有统计学意义(χ²=1 703.70,P<0.05),超重及肥胖组儿童BAD均值在多个年龄均大于正常组,6~11岁肥胖男童及6~10岁肥胖女童BAD均值>1。肥胖男童在6～12岁与13～15岁组之间BAD差异有统计学意义(t=9.47,P<0.05),且6~12岁肥胖组男童BAD均值>1。超重及肥胖女童在6～12岁与13～15岁组间BAD差异均有统计学意义(t=9.695、13.118,P<0.05),且6~12岁超重及肥胖组BAD均值>1。结论 6～12岁儿童的BAD明显大于13～15岁儿童,且超重和肥胖儿童的BAD明显大于正常儿童,说明超重和肥胖儿童骨龄加速在6～12岁就已开始,骨龄提前对儿童正常的生长发育及终身高的影响较大,应引起重视并给予干预。     

Predicting overweight and obesity in adulthood from body mass index values in childhood and adolescence

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduced the clinical use of the body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) in growth charts for young males and females. OBJECTIVE: This study updates our previous report with the use of new CDC BMI charts and definitions of adult overweight and obesity to predict adult overweight or obesity. DESIGN: Logistic models were fitted to relate adult overweight and obesity to childhood and adolescent BMI values at each age for 166 males and 181 females in the Fels Longitudinal Study and were applied to predict adult overweight and obesity at the 75th, 85th, and 95th percentiles on the CDC charts of childhood and adolescent BMI. RESULTS: A child or adolescent with a high BMI percentile on the CDC BMI-for-age growth charts has a high risk of being overweight or obese at 35 y of age, and this risk increases with age. For example, the probability of adult obesity at the 85th percentile for young males was 相似文献   

Obesity among pre-adolescent and adolescents of a developing country (India)

There are very few reports from the developing world on the prevalence of obesity among children even though in developed countries it has reached epidemic proportions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity in pre-adolescent and adolescent children in a developing country (India) using WHO guidelines for defining obesity and overweight. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 2008 school-children aged 9-15 years. Approximately half the subjects belonged to a school attended by children of well to do families while the rest belonged to two schools from middle and lower socio-economic background. Weight and height were taken for all children and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. Children whose BMI was >85th percentile for age and sex were defined as overweight. Triceps skin fold thickness (TSFT) was measured for all overweight children and those with TSFT >90th percentile for age and sex were defined as obese. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 11.1% and 14.2% respectively. The prevalence of obesity as well as overweight was higher in boys as compared to girls (12.4% vs 9.9%, 15.7% vs 12.9%). Prevalence of obesity decreased significantly with age, from 18.5% at 9 years to 7.6% at 14 years, rising at 15 years to 12.1%. Significantly more children from higher socio-economic status were obese and overweight than those from lower socio-economic status groups. No significant gender difference for obesity prevalence was seen among children from a less privileged background, however, amongst children from affluent families, significantly more boys were obese as compared to girls. Pediatric obesity is an emerging problem in developing countries, especially among higher socio-economic status groups. Significant gender disparity is seen, with boys of affluent background having a higher prevalence.     

Obesity and socioeconomic status in children of Tijuana

BACKGROUND: Although obesity has been associated with socioeconomic status among Hispanics living in the United States, little is known about whether a similar association exists among Hispanics living in Mexico, particularly among those living along the U.S.-Mexico border. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its association with socioeconomic status in Mexican schoolchildren attending public and private schools in Tijuana, Baja California. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic status were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 1172 school children, aged 6 to 13 years from 55 schools in Tijuana in 2001-2002. Underweight (body mass index [BMI] for age 5th percentile or lower), risk of overweight (BMI at 85th percentile or higher), and overweight (BMI greater than 95th percentile) were assessed using charts published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: Abnormalities in weight were found in 46.3% of 587 boys and 43.7% of 585 girls in the study. Undernutrition was found in 3.7% of the boys and 3.8% of the girls. The general prevalence of overweight was 23.2% for boys and 21.7% for girls. Children living in low-income neighborhoods had the thickest biceps skinfolds (p<0.01), while children living in moderate-income neighborhoods and attending public schools had the thickest triceps skinfolds (p<0.001). Although boys living in high socioeconomic status neighborhoods were at decreased risk for being overweight, boys and girls attending private schools had a 75% increased risk (odds ratio, 1.75; confidence interval, 1.22-2.52) of being overweight than children attending public schools. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity varies by type of school and neighborhood socioeconomic status. The biphasic curve in risk for being overweight associated with neighborhood socioeconomic status suggests that Mexican children living along the U.S. border may be experiencing a nutrition transition with respect to an increased risk of obesity and related chronic disease.     

大连市儿童青少年体重指数分布状况

目的探讨大连市儿童青少年体重指数的分布特征,为预防儿童青少年的超重、肥胖提供相关依据。方法整群抽取大连市区1635名儿童青少年进行身高和体重测量。按照中国肥胖问题工作组（WGOC）推荐的“中国儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查BMI值分类标准”诊断超重与肥胖。结果大连市儿童青少年体重指数随着年龄的增加而增加,年龄越大BMI值越大;男生不同年龄、女生不同年龄BMI值之间差异有统计学意义;对同一年龄不同性别儿童青少年BMI值进行Z检验,结果表明除7岁、9岁年龄组外,其他年龄段男女生BMI值之间差异均有统计学意义,且男生BMI值均高于女生;不同年龄男生肥胖率变化趋势无明显的规律性,女生肥胖率在9岁后逐年下降,而超重率在10岁后却逐年上升。结论应重视儿童青少年超重、肥胖的预防工作。     

Augmenting BMI and Waist-Height Ratio for Establishing More Efficient Obesity Percentiles among School-going Children

Research Questions:

1. Are all the existing methods for estimating the obesity and overweight in school going children in India equally efficient? 2. How to derive more efficient obesity percentiles to determine obesity and overweight status in school-going children aged 7-12 years old?

Objectives:

1. To investigate and analyze the prevalence rate of obesity and overweight children in India, using the established standards. 2. To compare the efficiency among the tools with the expected levels in the Indian population. 3. To establish and demonstrate the higher efficiency of the proposed percentile chart.

Study Design:

A cross-sectional study using a completely randomized design.

Settings:

Government, private-aided, unaided, and central schools in the Thrissur district of Kerala.

Participants:

A total of 1500 boys and 1500 girls aged 7-12 years old.

Results:

BMI percentiles, waist circumference percentiles, and waist to height ratio are the ruling methodologies in establishing the obese and overweight relations in school-going children. Each one suffers from the disadvantage of not considering either one or more of the obesity contributing factors in human growth dynamics, the major being waist circumference and weight. A new methodology for mitigating this defect through considering BMI and waist circumference simultaneously for establishing still efficient percentiles to arrive at obesity and overweight status is detailed here. Age-wise centiles for obesity and overweight status separately for boys and girls aged 7-12 years old were established. Comparative efficiency of this methodology over BMI had shown that this could mitigate the inability of BMI to consider waist circumference. Also, this had the advantage of considering body weight in obesity analysis, which is the major handicap in waist to height ratio. An analysis using a population of 1500 boys and 1500 girls has yielded 3.6% obese and 6.2% overweight samples, which is well within the accepted range for Indian school-going children.

Conclusion:

The percentiles for school-going children based on age and sex were derived by comparing all other accepted standards used for measurement of obesity and overweight status. Hence, augmenting BMI and waist to height ratio is considered to be the most reliable method for establishing obesity percentiles among school-going children.     

Impact of Caregiver Type for 3-Year-Old Children on Subsequent Between-Meal Eating Habits and Being Overweight From Childhood to Adulthood: A 20-Year Follow-up of the Ibaraki Children’s Cohort (IBACHIL) Study

Background

Because of the increasing number of mothers who continue to work after childbirth, participation in childcare has diversified. However, the impact of the main caregiver on children’s habits has not been determined. We sought to examine the effect of caregiver differences on childhood habituation of between-meal eating and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

The Ibaraki Children’s Cohort Study involved 4592 Japanese children whose parents answered health questionnaires at age 3. Follow-up questionnaires were distributed to parents when children were 6 and 12 years old and to study subjects directly when they were 22 years old. We compared prevalence of between-meal eating and overweight as well as mean BMI at ages 6, 12, and 22 years, by their main daytime caregiver at age 3.

Results

Compared to children cared for by mothers, those cared for by grandparents had a higher prevalence of between-meal eating before dinner for boys and girls at ages 6 and 12 years. At age 22 years, boys cared for by grandparents had a higher prevalence of overweight than those cared for by mothers (18.5% versus 11.2%, P = 0.037), but no such difference was noted in girls. However, both boys and girls cared for by grandparents had higher mean BMI over time than those cared for by mothers (coefficient = 0.47 kg/m² for boys and coefficient = 0.35 kg/m² for girls).

Conclusions

Being cared for by grandparents at age 3 was associated with subsequent between-meal eating habits, being overweight, and increased mean BMI from childhood to adulthood.Key words: children, eating habits, overweight, cohort study, epidemiology     

Overweight and obesity in children from Shenzhen, Peoples Republic of China

We describe overweight and obesity prevalence in Shenzhen school children (2146 girls and 2428 boys) aged 7 to 12 years, Guangdong Province, China. Nineteen percent of boys and 11% of girls were overweight or obese. Boys had odds of almost 2 to 1 (1.92, 95% CI 1.62,2.27) of being overweight or obese compared to girls and children aged 9 years and over were at greater odds of being overweight or obese than those aged 7 years (p<0.05). Overweight and obesity prevalence among children from Shenzhen rivals that of children from developed nations. Current obesity levels in Shenzhen may represent future levels for urban China.     

Intergenerational perceptions of body image in hispanics: role of BMI, gender, and acculturation

OBJECTIVE: To assess role of BMI, gender, and acculturation on maternal and children's perception of body size, body ideal, and attractiveness. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Eighty mothers and their 6- to- 12-year-old children (41 boys, 39 girls) participated. Maternal and children's perceptions of body size (actual and ideal) and attractiveness were assessed through a pictorial instrument. Mother and child height and weight, demographic, and acculturation characteristics were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine percent of the mothers were overweight, and 32% of the boys and 34% of the girls were overweight or at-risk for overweight. BMI influenced the children's selection of perceived ideal size. Overweight or at-risk for overweight children were more likely to select thinner figures as the ideal size than non-overweight children. Gender and acculturation differences concerning children's perceptions of body size and attractiveness were also found. Girls perceived the obese figure as being less attractive than did the boys. More acculturated children were likely to select thinner figures as more attractive than their less acculturated counterparts. Maternal acculturation was associated positively with the girls' choice of thinner figures as an ideal body size, but not with the boys. Mothers viewed their daughters' actual body size and BMI as ideal, although 34% of the girls were at-risk for overweight. Mothers perceived average body size figures as more attractive for their sons. DISCUSSION: Findings from this study provide empirical data about the role of BMI, gender, acculturation, and familial influences on children's perceptions of actual and ideal body sizes and attractiveness.