Incongruence between mother perceptions and preschooler's actual weight status using BMI Categories

Abstract

Mothers of overweight or obese children are reported to underestimate their child's weight status. This study assessed how accurately a mother perceived her preschooler's body size and the affect of the child's actual weight status (underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese BMI) on this perception. The study also included the mother's perception of her own body size. Both mothers and their children ages 3–5 y (n=265) attending one of 12 Las Vegas Nevada Head Start centers were weighed, measured and interviewed. Mothers (74.3% Hispanic) indicated their own and their child's silhouettes. Although 72.8% correctly identified their own body size, only 55% of mothers were accurate in identifying their preschooler's body size. When looking at the preschooler's weight status, 83% of mothers with children in the “healthy weight” correctly identified their child. However, for preschoolers in the overweight category, none identified their preschooler as “too heavy” and only 22% of mothers correctly identified their preschooler as “too heavy” when the child's weight status was obese. Finally, 43% of mothers correctly identified their preschooler as being underweight. Results show that while mothers may accurately identify preschoolers who are at a healthy weight, they incorrectly report weight status for those defined as overweight, obese, and underweight. Funded in part by USDA FNS.