Abstract
Parental participation is a key factor in the prevention and management of childhood obesity, thus parental recognition of weight problems is essential. We estimated parental perceptions and their determinants in the Emirati population. We invited 1541 students (grade 1–12; 50% boys) and their parents, but only 1440 (6–19 years) and their parents consented. Of these, 945 Emirati nationals provided data for analysis. Anthropometric and demographic variables were measured by standard methods. CDC BMI percentile charts for age and sex were used to classify children’s weight. Parental perception of their children’s weight status (underweight, normal, and overweight/obese) was recorded. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of parental perceptions of children’s weight status. Of all parents, 33.8% misclassified their children’s’ weight status; underestimating (27.4%) or overestimating (6.3%). Misclassification was highest among parents of overweight/obese children (63.5%) and underweight (55.1%) children. More importantly, parental perceptions of their children being overweight or obese, among truly overweight/obese children, i.e. correct identification of an overweight/obese child as such, were associated with the true child’s BMI percentile (CDC) with an OR of 1.313 (95% CI: 1.209–1.425; p<0.001) per percentile point, but not age, parental education, household income, and child’s sex. We conclude that the majority of parents of overweight/obese children either overestimated or, more commonly, underestimated children’s weight status. Predictors of accurate parental perception, in this population, include the true children’s BMI, but not age, household income, and sex. Thus, parents having an incorrect perception of their child’s weight status may ignore otherwise appropriate health messages.
Highlights
Childhood obesity, a global public health problem, occurs among boys and girls of all ages, socioeconomic strata, and ethnicity, with significant long term adverse health and economic consequences [1,2,3,4,5,6]
We have shown a significantly high parental misperception among both parents of overweight/obese as well as underweight children
For the first time in the rapidly developing Arabian Gulf region, that a significant number (33.8%) of parents misclassified their children’s weight status, either by underestimating (27.4%) overweight or obese children, or by overestimating (6.4%) normal weight children
Summary
A global public health problem, occurs among boys and girls of all ages, socioeconomic strata, and ethnicity, with significant long term adverse health and economic consequences [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Tackling childhood obesity requires the identification of efficacious and cost-effective approaches, both in terms of prevention and treatment. Physician awareness of childhood overweight and obesity is important, perhaps especially for children with a family history of chronic diseases, e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus [10]. Sustained motivation in weight reduction requires social support mechanisms, most notably, active family support. Environment and parental attitudes are related to childhood obesity [11], and seem to directly influence children’s development of (un) healthy lifestyle behaviors [12]. Active parental involvement in the prevention and management of childhood obesity may well play a pivotal role in any efficacious intervention and reduction of childhood obesity [13,14]
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