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Learning Objective 1: identify the difference in parental perception of weight in children.
Learning Objective 2: distinguish difference in demographics of children that are normal weight versus overweight/obese.
Purpose: To examine parental perceptions of their child's weight and health.
Design: Subjects were recruited at Pediatric Partners of Chamblee, a primary care clinic of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Georgia. An anonymous paper and pencil questionnaire was distributed to parents during well-care visits for children from 2 to 17 years of age.
Methods: Parents or caregivers were surveyed about their child’s weight and health and general questions about overweight and obesity. They also selected a sketch that most represented their child’s current status. Questions assess how parents see their children both in descriptive terms and using pictures that evaluate weight. In addition, parents describe children’s exercise, diet and family history. Further, both parents and children were weighed and measured to evaluate whether the caregiver’s BMI classification is related to the child’s BMI classification.
Results: 289 surveys collecte, 75% were <9 years old, 49.5% were male, 91.7% were Hispanic, 5.9% were black; 17% were overweight and 23.2% were obese. Parents of obese children classified the children as “obese” 7.6% of the time when selecting a picture. In terms of the descriptive terms, the parents selected the terms “little overweight” and “overweight” for the obese children 15.3% of the time.
Implications: The data gathered from this research study will provide the basis for creation of a targeted intervention strategy to address obesity in the context of primary care. Specifically, future educational programs will address parents’ tendency to inaccurately estimate their child’s weight whether they are normal, overweight or obese in a culturally sensitive manner.
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