Parental disconnect between perceived and actual weight status of children: A metasynthesis of the current research

Doolen, Jessica; Alpert, Patricia T.; Miller, Stephen J.

doi:10.1111/j.1745-7599.2008.00382.x

Cited by 214 publications

(227 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Some studies suggest that parents tend to underestimate the problems of overweight and obesity in children [57]- [60], this situation is more pronounced when parents themselves are overweight. Despite the existence of such a risk, self-reported weight and height can reliably predict the prevalence of obesity and associated A. Tchicaya, N. Lorentz 2329 behaviours.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Children’s Body Mass Index and Parents’ Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: A Multilevel Analysis Applied with Luxembourg Data

Tchicaya¹,

Lorentz²

2014

Health

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Obesity in children is a health crisis because the problem is increasing in most developed countries. This study measures the relationship between body mass index (BMI) of children aged 7 -12 years residing in Luxembourg and the weight and socioeconomic status of their parents. The data used are from the 2007 Socio-Economic Panel Liewen zu Lëtzebuerg/European Union-Statistics on Income and Living Conditions survey, which covers a population of approximately 10,000 people. The study sample includes 775 children whose weight and height were recorded to calculate their BMI. The descriptive analysis with the socioeconomic distribution of the children's BMI and the multilevel logistic regression of the probability to be in overweight or obese were performed. The mean BMI of children was 17.4 kg/m² for boys and girls. The prevalence of overweight was 21.2% (including 3% who were obese). Weight status, educational level, physical activity, and eating habits of parents were associated with BMI in children. Furthermore, children of foreign nationality had 2.9 times more risk to be overweight or obese than other children of Luxembourg nationality (OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.38 -6.10). Children living in household with at least one parent who was obese were 6.51 times more likely to be in overweight or obese compared to those in household with both parents normal (OR = 6.51, 95%CI: 2.48 -17.08). Overall, nationality and weight status of parents were the main determinants of children's weight status. Promoting healthy diets and regular physical activity and educating parents on the consequences of overweight and obesity on children's health in adulthood are effective strategies to control overweight and obesity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between Children’s Body Mass Index and Parents’ Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: A Multilevel Analysis Applied with Luxembourg Data

Tchicaya¹,

Lorentz²

2014

Health

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“…Little empirical evidence exists, but explanations have been advanced. For instance, some parents may not know how 'overweight' is defined (Doolen et al 2009). And desensitization may be occurring as excess weight becomes more of a cultural norm.…”

Section: Cultural Impacts and Segmentationmentioning

confidence: 99%

All in the Family? Parental Roles in the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

2016

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Childhood obesity is a serious global health challenge. Families and consumption are at the nexus of the problem, as childhood weight issues depend significantly on family-related influences (genetic predispositions, physical activities, and household food consumption practices). This article focuses on how a family socializes a child toward or away from obesity. It advances a family consumer socialization framework to characterize key elements and processes.Biological predispositions, parent/family inputs, elements of child development, parent-child interactions, and intergenerational transfer are all major contributors to weight status and life course potentials. Time is also a crucial component, here represented in two forms --linear and cyclical. Drawing on extensive research from other disciplines and related consumer research, five "Foundational Properties" are distilled, representing fundamental tenets underpinning the family's role in this problem. Each property is then used to chart promising opportunities for consumer researchers and others interested in advancing knowledge on this pressing concern.

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“…5,6 However, a meta-analysis of parents' perception o f c h i l d h o o d o b e s i t y i n d i c a t e s that parents are prone to have a misperception of their child's height to weight ratio, especially those who are overweight themselves. 7 Some studies suggest that parents fail to recognize their children's overweight because of their own weight, the child's younger age and gender, among other factors. 8 In the low socioeconomic level group, many mothers see the fat child stereotype as healthier and happier versus the thin child, who is perceived as sickly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Altered perception of the nutritional status of preschoolers by their parents: A risk factor for overweight and obesity

et al. 2016

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Introduction.Many parents have a misperception of their children's body size; in general, they underestimate overweight and obesity. Objective. To identify the difference between parents' perception of their children's nutritional status and measured body mass index. Population and methods. An analytical, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among parents of children aged 2 to 6 years old. Children's body mass index was measured, and parents' perception was assessed using a visual scale of body size pictograms (drawings of body figures equivalent to body mass index percentiles). Results. A total of 605 children and their parents were assessed. Seventy-four (12.2%) were overweight and 87 were obese (14.3%). There were 161 overweight or obese children, but 98.8% (159) of parents underestimated their children's nutritional status. Parents' underperception of their children's body size accounted for an OR= 2.1 ± 0.5, p = 0.002 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-3.32) for obesity and an OR = 4.42 ± 1.2, p < 0.001 (95% CI: 2.631-7.439) for overweight. Conclusions. Among parents of overweight and obese children, 98.8% (159) underestimated their children's weight status. Such underestimation by parents may be a significant risk factor for the development and/or persistence of overweight and obesity in their children.

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Parental disconnect between perceived and actual weight status of children: A metasynthesis of the current research

Cited by 214 publications

References 45 publications

Relationship between Children’s Body Mass Index and Parents’ Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: A Multilevel Analysis Applied with Luxembourg Data

Relationship between Children’s Body Mass Index and Parents’ Obesity and Socioeconomic Status: A Multilevel Analysis Applied with Luxembourg Data

All in the Family? Parental Roles in the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

Altered perception of the nutritional status of preschoolers by their parents: A risk factor for overweight and obesity

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