Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To analyze maternal conceptions about excess weight in infancy and the nutritional status of their preschool-aged children.METHODS:A mixed, exploratory study was performed using semi-structured interviews. Two study groups were defined: a group of 16 mothers of children with excess weight and a group of 15 mothers of eutrophic children. The interviews were submitted to content analysis using CHIC software (Classification Hiérarchique Implicative et Cohésitive®).RESULTS:The mothers of children with excess weight tended to conceive thin children as malnourished, while those of normal weight children emphasized the influence of family and genetics as determinants of a child’s nutritional status. Although there was a certain consensus among the mothers that an unhealthy diet contributes to the risk of a child developing excess weight, the concept of genetics as a determinant of a child’s nutritional status was also present in the dialogue from the mothers of both groups. This result indicates a lack of clarity regarding the influence of eating behavior and family lifestyle on weight gain and the formation of a child’s eating habits. Both groups indicated that the mother has a decisive role in the eating habits of her child; however, the mothers of children with excess weight did not seem to take ownership of this concept when addressing the care of their own children.CONCLUSION:Differences in conceptions, including taking ownership of care, may contribute to the development of excess weight in preschool-aged children.
Highlights
Excess weight in children, meaning overweight or obesity, has shown worrying trends in terms of prevalence [1] and prognosis [2] and has gained growing interest from health professionals in addition to society as a whole
From the total children in the sample, two groups were selected according to the cutoff points for the z-score of body mass index (BMI) that are recommended by the Ministry of Health-Brazil [22]
In Group 2 (G2), the age of the 16 mothers ranged from 21 to 34 years; 13 reported having studied for at least 11 years; 14 reported living with a partner; worked outside the home; had a household income in the range from 1.8 to 3.7 times the minimum wage (MW); and half lived in their own home
Summary
Excess weight in children, meaning overweight or obesity, has shown worrying trends in terms of prevalence [1] and prognosis [2] and has gained growing interest from health professionals in addition to society as a whole. It is believed that maternal factors related to pregnancy, intrauterine growth and development and other characteristics of a child during the first year of life influence the development of excess weight [3,4]. Excess weight is in turn associated with important comorbidities in adolescents [5] and young adults [6,7].
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