Parental perception of overweight and underweight in children and adolescents

Aims: To compare the parental perception of overweight and underweight in their children to objective criteria, based on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and triceps skinfold thickness, and to explore the effects of potential determinants. Methods: Logistic regression of anthropometric measurements, socio‐demographic characteristics and self‐reported parental height and weight on the parental perception of their child’s weight status in 3770 children aged 2–19. Results: Seventy per cent of overweight/obese children and 40.8% of underweight children were perceived having normal weight by parents. In 2‐ to 5‐year‐old overweight children, 91.2% were considered to have normal weight. For a given BMI, primary school age children, adolescents and girls had a higher probability to be assigned as overweight, whereas adolescents and girls had a lower probability to be assigned as underweight. Overweight parents more readily assigned their children as underweight, but there was no effect of parental educational level or parental underweight. Conclusion: Parental ability to recognize overweight or underweight in their offspring was generally poor. The findings emphasize the need for objective criteria based on physical measurements in the routine follow up of children, as parental ability to recognize weight problems in their children is nonreliable.     

Do Parents Accurately Perceive Their Child's Weight Status?

IntroductionFew studies have evaluated the accuracy of parental perceptions of their child's weight status.MethodsA cross-sectional sample of children aged 5 to 12 years and their parents (n = 576 parent-child pairs) was enrolled from four schools. Child height and weight were measured. The parents classified their child on Likert scales ranging from “extremely overweight” to “extremely underweight.” Parental perceptions were compared with their child's weight status according to body mass index (BMI) age-gender percentiles. Fisher-Halton-Freeman tests, χ², and logistic regression were used to compare demographic factors between parents who inaccurately estimated and those who accurately estimated child weight status.ResultsMisclassification occurred 25% of the time (95% confidence interval: 21.4–28.5). All parents of children with a BMI greater than or equal to the 95th percentile classified their child in a category other than “extremely overweight,” and 75% of children with a BMI from the 85th to less than the 95th percentile were misclassified as “about right” or “underweight.” Boys were more likely to be misclassified than were girls (29% vs 21%, P = .03).ConclusionsThe majority of parents of obese and overweight children underestimate their child's weight status. Parents of boys are more likely to perceive their child's weight incorrectly.     

Parental perception of weight and weight-related behaviour in 2- to 4-year-old children in the eastern part of the Netherlands

Parental perception of weight status and weight-related behaviour of their toddler was determined through a questionnaire survey in child health care centres (CHCs). Complete data on weight, length, sex and age were available for 635 of 682 children (93.1%). The median age of the children was 37.0 months (range 24–56 months). Of all 635 children, 76.5% were normal weight, 16.2% underweight and 7.2% overweight. Parents’ perception of the weight of their child compared with their peers was moderately related to the actual weight status. Of the parents of overweight and underweight children, 87.0% and 89.3%, respectively, were not concerned. Only the parents’ perception of the amount of food eaten by their child was significantly related to the weight status. The primary goal of CHC workers should be to create parental awareness in case of their child being overweight or underweight and to support them in accomplishing a healthy lifestyle. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Accuracy of weight status perception in contemporary Australian children and adolescents

Aim: To explore weight status perception and its relation to actual weight status in a contemporary cohort of 5‐ to 17‐year‐old children and adolescents. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), derived from height and weight measurements, and perception of weight status (‘too thin’, ‘about right’ and ‘too fat’) were evaluated in 3043 participants from the Healthy Kids Queensland Survey. In children less than 12 years of age, weight status perception was obtained from the parents, whereas the adolescents self‐reported their perceived weight status. Results: Compared with measured weight status by established BMI cut‐offs, just over 20% of parents underestimated their child's weight status and only 1% overestimated. Adolescent boys were more likely to underestimate their weight status compared with girls (26.4% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.05) whereas adolescent girls were more likely to overestimate than underestimate (11.8% vs. 3.4%, P < 0.05). Underestimation was greater by parents of overweight children compared with those of obese children, but still less than 50% of parents identified their obese child as ‘too fat’. There was greater recognition of overweight status in the adolescents, with 83% of those who were obese reporting they were ‘too fat’. Conclusion: Whilst there was a high degree of accuracy of weight status perception in those of healthy weight, there was considerable underestimation of weight status, particularly by parents of children who were overweight or obese. Strategies are required that enable parents to identify what a healthy weight looks like and help them understand when intervention is needed to prevent further weight gain as the child gets older.     

Parents underestimate their child`s overweight

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate parents’ ability to perceive the weight status of their children. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was performed on 5 (n = 310) and 11‐year‐old (n = 296) children. The height, weight and waist circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was calculated. The International Obesity Task Force criteria and the British cut‐off points were used to classify BMI and waist circumference. Parents filled out a questionnaire concerning their perception of the weight class of their child. The parents and the 11‐year‐old children estimated their own weight class. For analysis, the measured and perceived weight classes were divided into two categories; normal weight (including underweight) and overweight or obese. To measure the agreement cross‐tabulation with Cohen’s Kappa was used. Explanatory variables associated with misclassification of overweight children as normal weight were examined by logistic regression modelling. Results: The prevalence of overweight (including obese) was 17.4% and 21.6% in 5‐ and 11‐year‐old children in this study. Only a few parents misclassified their normal weight children as overweight. By contrast, a majority of parents to the 5‐year‐old children and about half of the parents to the 11‐year‐old children misclassified them as normal weight. Using waist circumference for body size classification did not improve parents’ performance. Mothers performed best when estimating own weight class. Conclusion: A majority of parents fail to recognize overweight or obesity in their 5‐ and 11‐year‐old children. The underestimation of overweight may impair the motivation of the parents to adopt weight control.     

Difference between parental perception and actual weight status of children: a systematic review

An increasing number of children worldwide are overweight, and the first step in treating obesity is to identify overweight. However, do parents recognise overweight in their child and which factors influence parental perception? The aim of the present review is to systematically study differences between parental perception and the actual weight status of children. Medline, EMbase, CINAHL and PsychINFO were searched. After screening 2497 abstracts and 106 full texts, two reviewers independently scored the methodological quality of 51 articles (covering 35 103 children), which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome parameters were sensitivity and specificity of parental perception for actual weight status of their child. The methodological quality of the studies ranged from poor to excellent. Pooled results showed that according to objective criteria 11 530 children were overweight; of these, 7191 (62.4%) were incorrectly perceived as having normal weight by their parents. The misperception of overweight children is higher in parents with children aged 2–6 years compared with parents of older children. Sensitivity (correct perception of overweight) of the studies ranged from 0.04 to 0.89, while specificity (correct perception of normal weight) ranged from 0.86 to 1.00. There were no significant differences in sensitivity or specificity for different cut‐off points for overweight, or between newer and older studies. Therefore we can conclude that parents are likely to misperceive the weight status of their overweight child, especially in children aged 2–6 years. Because appropriate treatment starts with the correct perception of overweight, health care professionals should be aware of the frequent parental misperception of the overweight status of their children.     

Talking About Childhood Obesity: A Survey of What Parents Want

ObjectiveDetermine parent preferences when discussing their child's weight with regard to weight-based terms, terms that are the most motivating, preferred setting, and whether or not awareness of their child's weight status impact these preferences.MethodsParents of children ages 3 to 17 years (N = 349) presenting for health supervision visits completed a survey to assess the degree of offensiveness and motivation for change of commonly used weight-based terminology, as well as the preferred setting for discussion of weight. Parents were asked to assess their child's weight status using recommended terminology (“obese,” “overweight,” “healthy weight,” “underweight”), and their responses were compared to the children's objective body mass index (BMI) percentile.ResultsThe children had a median age of 10.3 years; 47.3% were female, 15.8% had overweight (85th–94th percentile BMI), and 11.5% had obesity (≥95th percentile BMI). Of children with overweight/obesity, 84.2% of parents underestimated their child's weight status. The least offensive terms were “at-risk weight,” “BMI is high,” “BMI is above 95%,” and “unhealthy weight.” The more offensive terms (P < .001) were “overweight” and “obese.” The parent's perception of their child's weight did not affect offensiveness ratings. “Obese” was the strongest motivator for change (P < .001), and “unhealthy weight” was next. Well visits were preferred for discussing weight (P < .001). Most parents preferred to have the child remain in the room (P < .001), especially if the child was older (P < .001).ConclusionsProviders should use preferred terms when discussing excess weight regardless of a parent's perception of their child's status and should also consider the motivational value of the term. “Unhealthy weight” was both preferred and motivating, but “obese” was the most motivating.     

Sex disparity and perception of obesity/overweight by parents and grandparents

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the factors associated with the sex disparity showing a greater prevalence of obesity/overweight in boys compared with girls in Chinese school children.

METHODS:

Sampled students and their parents were asked to complete a questionnaire. Perceptions of weight status by the parents, grandparents and children themselves were collected. A logistic regression analysis was used.

RESULTS:

The sampled students included 327 obese/overweight students and 1078 students with normal body mass index (BMI). The crude OR of obesity/overweight for boys compared with girls was 1.57 (95% CI 1.22 to 2.01). The increased risk of childhood obesity/overweight for boys remained after adjustment for prenatal and infant factors, daily habits and family situation, but disappeared after adjustment for perception of weight status (OR 1.27 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.67]). There were differences in underestimation of children’s weight status between boys and girls by their parents and grandparents (OR 1.33 [95% CI 1.08 to 1.64] and OR 1.42 [95% CI 1.15 to 1.75], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Misconceptions about a child’s weight status were prevalent among parents and grandparents, and boys’ weight status was more frequently underestimated than girls. The disparity of underestimating weight according to sex may partially contribute to the difference in the prevalence of obesity/overweight between boys and girls among Chinese school children.     

Parental Concerns About Child Weight Among 10–17-Year Olds With Overweight/Obesity: A Family Ecological Model

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify child, family/household, organization (provider), and neighborhood/community factors associated with parental concern about weight among children with overweight/obesity in order to inform effective interventions for improving health in this pediatric population.MethodsPrevalence of parental concern about child weight was estimated and factors identified within an adapted family ecological framework. Using cross-sectional data from the 2018 National Survey of Children's Health, we conducted bivariate and multivariable analyses of 10 to 17-year olds (N = 15,427) for whom height and weight information was reported by parents or primary caregivers.ResultsThere were 4287 children, aged 10 to 17 years, with overweight/obesity (31%). Approximately 34% of parents of children with overweight/obesity reported being concerned about their child's weight, with the remainder being not concerned. In adjusted analyses, 23% of children with overweight and 45% of children with obesity had parents who reported being concerned. Factors associated with parental concern among children with overweight/obesity included child weight status, female gender, peer social difficulties, the extent of the child's daily activities affected by health conditions, poorer parental coping, and having been told the child was overweight by a provider.ConclusionsOnly one in three parents of children with overweight/obesity reported being concerned about their child's weight, although parental concern was more common among children affected by obesity more so than overweight. A combination of child, family, and organization (provider) factors were associated with parental concern. Provider feedback about child overweight may improve parental awareness of a weight-related health issue.     

Overweight in children and its perception by parents: cross-sectional observation in a general pediatric outpatient clinic

Background

Childhood overweight is a growing problem in industrialized countries. Parents play a major role in the development and the treatment of overweight in their children. A key factor here is the perception of their child’s weight status. As we know of other studies, parental perception of children’s weight status is very poor. This study aimed to determine factors associated with childhood overweight and parental misperception of weight status. The height and weight of children, as reported by parents were compared with measured data.

Methods

The study was conducted at a general pediatric outpatient clinic in Vienna, Austria. A total of 600 children (aged 0–14 years) participated in the study. Collection of data was performed by means of a questionnaire comprising items relating to parental weight and social demographics. The parents were also asked to indicate their children’s weight and height, as well as the estimated weight status. Children were weighed and measured and BMI was calculated, allowing a comparison of estimated values and weight categories with the measured data.

Results

Parental BMI, parental weight and a higher birth weight were identified as factors associated with childhood overweight. No association with the parents’ educational status or citizenship could be proven. We compared parents’ estimations of weight and height of their children with measured data. Here we found, that parental estimated values often differ from measured data. Using only parental estimated data to define weight status leads to misclassifications. It could be seen that parents of overweight children tend to underestimate the weight status of their children, compared to parents of children with normal weight.

Conclusions

Pediatricians should bear in mind that parental assessment often differs from the measured weight of their children. Hence children should be weighed and measured regularly to prevent them from becoming overweight. This is of particular importance in children with higher birth weight and children of overweight parents.

Trial registration

Study was not registered. The study was approved by the Ethic committee of the city of Vienna. (EK 13–146-VK).

     

Excess of weight,but not underweight,is associated with poor physical fitness in children and adolescents from Castilla-La Mancha,Spain

We estimated the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity of children and adolescents from Castilla-La Mancha region (Spain), applying the new International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) 2012 criteria, and analysed differences in physical fitness components in relation to weight status. The sample was 2,330 schoolchildren aged 6–17 years. We measured height and weight, calculated body mass index (BMI) and assessed physical fitness using four tests included in the EUROFIT battery. Differences in physical fitness components across BMI categories, by sex, were calculated using ANOVA models. In children aged 6–11 years, 4.9 % were underweight, 26.7 % overweight and 11.0 % obese; in adolescents aged 12–17 years, 6.4 % were underweight, 16.7 % overweight and 5.8 % obese. Overall, overweight and obesity were associated with worse physical fitness but students in the underweight category did not score worse than their normal weight counterparts on fitness tests. Conclusion: Childhood obesity in Spain remains a public health problem. Our results show low physical fitness levels in overweight/obese children and adolescents and low levels of handgrip strength in underweight adolescents compared with normal weight subjects. Exercise programmes must be tailored to the specific needs of the subjects according to the different weight status.     

乌鲁木齐市家长喂养行为现状及其与儿童体重指数的相关性

目的 探讨家长喂养行为与儿童体重指数（BMI）间的相关性,为预防和干预儿童超重、肥胖提供科学依据。方法 采用分层随机整群抽样的方法,抽取乌鲁木齐市新市区7所幼儿园976名儿童,通过问卷调查和体格测量获得相关数据。结果 共发放调查问卷976份,收回有效问卷924份（94.7%）。儿童体重不足、超重、肥胖总检出率分别为3.1%（29例）、9.2%（85例）、6.7%（62例）。家长喂养行为以监督饮食水平最高,其次为限制饮食,逼迫进食水平最低。其中汉族儿童家长采用限制饮食及逼迫进食的水平高于维吾尔族儿童家长（P < 0.01）。家长喂养行为中,限制饮食与汉族及维吾尔族男童BMI均呈正相关（P < 0.01）;逼迫进食与汉族男童及女童BMI均呈负相关（P < 0.01）,与维吾尔族男童及女童BMI均呈正相关（P < 0.01）;监督饮食与维吾尔族和汉族男童及女童BMI均呈负相关（P < 0.05）。汉族及维吾尔族男童中超重/肥胖儿童其父母限制饮食得分高于正常体重儿童家长（P < 0.05）;维吾尔族男童及女童中,超重/肥胖儿童其父母逼迫进食得分高于正常体重儿童其家长（P < 0.01）;汉族、维吾尔族男童及女童中超重及肥胖儿童其父母监督饮食得分低于正常体重儿童家长（P < 0.01）。结论 乌鲁木齐市家长喂养行为状况总体较好,其中维吾尔族儿童家长喂养行为略优于汉族儿童家长。家长喂养行为与儿童BMI密切相关,其相关性在不同民族及性别间存在差异。高水平的监督饮食及低水平的限制饮食、逼迫进食可能有利于预防和控制儿童超重、肥胖的发生与发展。     

Body mass index in Belgian schoolchildren and its relationship with sensitization and allergic symptoms

Results of studies of the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the allergic status are controversial. As a part of the Aalst Allergy Study, we assessed the prevalence of the different BMI categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and a possible association between BMI and atopy in 1576 unselected Belgian schoolchildren, aged from 3.4 to 14.8 yr. BMI was used to determine weight status. Skin prick testing with the most common aeroallergens was performed. A parental questionnaire documented data on respiratory and allergic disorders, demographic characteristics and other potential risk factors for sensitization. Among the total children, 4.1% of the children were underweight, 14.5% were overweight, and 7.4% were obese. More girls than boys were overweight (p = 0.015). In the group of children older than 12 yr, we found more overweight (p = 0.03) and obese (p = 0.004) girls, and more obese boys (p = 0.004) than in the younger age groups. In contrast with reports in the literature, an increased prevalence of allergic sensitization in underweight girls only [adjusted odd ratio (OR_adj) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–6.4] was documented. A strong association between obesity and exercise-induced respiratory symptoms was found in both boys (OR_adj = 14.5, 95% CI: 2.9–73.3) and girls (OR_adj = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.3–17.4). No correlations with allergic respiratory symptoms, eczema, or rhinoconjunctivitis could be documented.     

How do parents of 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children perceive the weight of their children?

Introduction: A heavier weight in adults is becoming the norm rather than an abnormal weight. Whether the same trend is happening in children is unknown. Objective: To assess the perception of the weight of 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children and the recognition of overweight by both parents. Design: Population‐based survey. Participants: A questionnaire was sent to parents of 1155 4‐ to 5‐year‐old children. Results: In total, 439 questionnaires (35%) were returned. Of all, 90% of the children had a normal weight, 9.3% were overweight and 4.1% were obese. For all weight classes, the parents depicted the child as lighter on both the verbal and visual scale. Of all, 75% of mothers of overweight children stated that the child had a normal weight. In obese children, 50% of the mothers believed that the child had a normal weight. Conclusion: Children with a weight in the normal range were considered by their parents as a little too light or too light. Overweight was considered as normal weight, and obesity as normal or a little too heavy. The perception of a normal weight in children at 4–5 years is distorted.     

学龄前儿童家庭环境中超重和肥胖危险因素分析

目的对北京市1173名儿童家长进行问卷调查,探讨北京市学龄前儿童家庭中与儿童超重和肥胖有关的危险因素。方法在北京市2个城区在园儿童数200人以上的机关直属幼儿园中随机选择5所幼儿园为调查单位,5所幼儿园中的1364名儿童为调查对象,对调查儿童进行身高和体重的测量,采用国际肥胖工作组不同年龄和性别的体重指数作为儿童超重和肥胖的判定标准。对所有调查儿童家长发放问卷进行调查,共收集填写完整的问卷1173份,回收率86％。问卷内容为家庭饮食习惯和生活方式、喂养方式、家长特征等。结果调查儿童中肥胖和超重的检出率分别为4．1％和6．9％。父母均肥胖的家庭儿童肥胖和超重的总检出率为15．2％,父母非肥胖家庭肥胖和超重的总检出率为7．5％;父母和儿童在体重指数、餐馆就餐频率、运动时间和看电视时间上存在正相关;多因素分析发现,父母肥胖、母亲文化程度低、儿童看电视和玩电脑游戏时间长是儿童肥胖和超重的危险因素。结论家庭环境对儿童肥胖的发生、发展影响较大,应针对家庭危险因素对儿童超重和肥胖进行有效干预。     

Breast-feeding history and overweight in Latino preschoolers.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the relationship between breast-feeding history and risk of overweight in the preschool years in a sample of primarily Mexican-origin Latinos. METHODS: Children's breast-feeding history, health history, and demographics were obtained in interviewer-administered questionnaires of a convenience sample of 364 parents of children ages 2-5 in an outpatient clinic waiting room serving a predominantly Mexican immigrant population in a large Midwestern city. Child weight status was determined by weighing and measuring each child and calculating age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) percentile using 2000 Centers for Disease Control reference values, with children > or =95th percentile defined as overweight. RESULTS: Seventy-six of 364 children (21%) were overweight. Eighty-seven percent of children had been breast-fed. Increased duration of breast-feeding was associated with a linearly decreased risk of overweight in bivariate analysis, ranging from an overweight prevalence of 35% for those never breast-fed to 12% for those breast-fed for at least a year. This inverse relationship remained significant in the smaller sample for which maternal BMI data were available (n = 127), as each additional month of breast-feeding was associated with a 10% decreased odds ratio (OR) of overweight (adjusted OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.81, 0.99) after controlling for child's sex, current age, prematurity, birth-weight category, maternal education level, and maternal weight status. CONCLUSION: This sample of children of Mexican-origin immigrant families had high rates of overweight at very young ages but also very high rates of breast-feeding. Duration of breast-feeding was strongly and inversely related with prevalence of overweight as a preschooler.     

Significance of gender of obese children and body weight of parents and siblings for the results of the treatment of obesity in childhood

We studied the influence of family size, family history of obesity, and the obese children's sex on the short and medium term outcome of an obesity therapy in children aged 10.7 +/- 3 years with mean percentage overweight of 41.4 +/- 16.9%. Family parameters such as obesity on other family members, single child families, and sex of the obese children did not influence the decision to stop or to complete therapy. Boys were more successful in weight reduction than girls both after 3-6 months and after 3-5 years; the difference being not significant, however. Children without family history initially were significantly less overweight than those with familial obesity, and they exhibited the best short and medium term results. Children of obese families initially were the fattest ones. They reduced their weight more than average, but they tended to regain weight during the following 3-5 years, reaching the highest levels of overweight after that time. Children without family history of obesity did not regain weight, however. Thus even after good short term results obese children of obese parents should be regarded at risk for relapse and should be checked for years after therapy to prevent weight regain.     

Parental weight status as a moderator of the relationship between television viewing and childhood overweight

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether and to what extent the relationship between television viewing and children's weight status differs according to parental weight status. DESIGN: Population-level survey including in-home and telephone interview components. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: Representative sample of children aged 6 to 19 years in 2002 (n = 1483). MAIN EXPOSURE: Hours of television viewing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Child weight status (normal weight, at risk for overweight, overweight) as defined by current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. RESULTS: Parental obesity increased the risk of child overweight for all of the children except boys aged 6 to 9 years. There were significant interactions between television viewing hours and parental obesity among boys aged 14 to 19 years and girls aged 10 to 13 years. For these 2 groups, the odds of overweight status increased with viewing hours for children with at least 1 obese parent but not at all for children of normal-weight parents. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that when parental obesity is taken into account, television viewing hours do not significantly relate to increased odds of childhood overweight, and parental body mass index may serve to moderate the relationship between television viewing and child weight status among adolescents (but not among younger children). Further examination of the moderating effect of parental body mass index on the relationship between television viewing and child weight status is warranted.