Adaptation and Validation of the MapMe Body Image Scales in Spanish Parents of Schoolchildren

Childhood overweight and obesity is a worldwide problem and to treat it parents' detection has to be improved. The MapMe Body Image Scales (BIS) are a visual tool developed to improve parental perception of child weight in the United Kingdon (UK) based on British growth reference criteria. The aim of this study was to make a transcultural adaptation and validation of the MapMe BIS in Spain based on International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut offs A descriptive cross-sectional study was done. First, a translation and cultural adaptation was carried out. A total of 155 10-11-year-old children and their parents participated in this study. Children were measured to calculate their weight status, Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Fat Percentage (BFP) and Waist Circumference (WC), and their parents completed a purpose designed questionnaire about their perception and satisfaction of child's body weight status using the adapted BIS. Test-retest reliability, criterion validity and concurrent validity of the adapted BIS were analyzed. This study shows that the adapted MapMe BIS has good psychometric properties and is a suitable visual scale to assess parental perception of weight status in 10 and 11-year-old children in Spain.

Parental Perception of Their Child's Weight Status in Portugal: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Parental perceptions of a child's weight status may influence family readiness to foster healthy behaviors. Our aim was to observe parental perceptions of their child's weight status in two time periods and in multiple population subgroups.

METHODS

Data were collected in two national projects, 2009 - 2010 (n = 6577) and 2016 - 2017 (n = 7594), in public and private kindergartens and primary schools in Portugal (children aged three to 10 years old). Parents filled out a questionnaire regarding their perception of their child's weight status, namely: 1) too thin, 2) thin, 3) normal weight, 4) with some excess weight, or 5) with a lot of excess weight. Children's height and weight were objectively collected, and the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs were used to classify overweight and obesity. Accurate and misclassification levels were calculated for children according to their sex, age, as well as child and parental weight status, while considering differences within and between the two time periods.

RESULTS

Overall, accuracy in parental perception of their child's weight was higher in 2016 - 2017 than in 2009 - 2010, regardless of children's sex, age, parental weight status, and education (65.7% and 60.5%, respectively). However, the ability of parents to detect obesity was ~ 50% lower in 2016 - 2017 compared with 2009 - 2010.

CONCLUSION

Even though parental perception of their child's weight was better in 2016 - 2017 than in 2009 - 2010 , the inverse result was found among children with obesity. Strategies are needed to encourage parents to improve their perception of the appropriate weight for their child.

Accuracy of Syrain Refugee Mothers' Perceptions of Newborn's Birth Size: Insights from a National Survey in Turkey

This study aims to assess the accuracy of maternally perceived birth size and its associated factors among the Syrian refugees in Turkey, using the data from 2018 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey Syrian Migrant Sample (TDHS-SM-18). The study includes information on the last-born child, singleton pregnancies, births in healthcare facilities, children under 5 living with their mothers, with recorded birth weight (n = 969). The study categorizes the mother's perception of size into three groups : compatible, overestimated, and underestimated. Various factors, including sociodemographic characteristics, financial aspects, maternal characteristics, and child characteristics, are considered as explanatory variables. The analysis employs a complex sample multiple logistic regression model. The findings reveal that the majority of mothers accurately perceive the birth size, but 17.1% of them do not. Maternal factors such as region of residence, literacy, occupation, age at birth, and child factors such as birth order, birth interval, gender, and birth weight are identified as associated factors with maternal misperception. This study provides valuable insights into the accuracy of maternally perceived birth size and sheds light on the factors influencing this perception among Syrian refugee mothers in Turkey.

Perceptions of Primary Caregivers on Children's Weight Status Versus Actual Weight Status in Children Aged 6-15 Years - China, 2021

What is already known about this topic?

Childhood obesity has been linked to adverse health outcomes during both childhood and adulthood. An accurate understanding of children's weight status by primary caregivers is essential for effective weight management strategies.

What is added by this report?

The data utilized in this study were obtained from the 2021 Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students in China. It was found that over one-third of primary caregivers underestimated their children's weight status, and more than half of the primary caregivers of overweight or obese children underreported the weight status of those children. A low level of agreement was observed between primary caregivers' perceptions of their children's weight status and the actual weight status.

What are the implications for public health practice?

There is a relatively higher underestimation of children's weight in China, which necessitates more effective strategies to enhance the primary caregivers' perception of their children's weight status, especially in primary caregivers of males, younger children and children in urban areas.

Obesity in Polish Children and Parents' Perception of Their Children's Weight Status: The Results of the SOPKARD-Junior Study

One way to counteract the spread of obesity in children is its early recognition by parents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether parents’ perception of their children’s BMI category was consistent with their actual BMI assessment and to determine potential influential factors. The study was conducted as part of the “A program for the early detection of risk factors for lifestyle diseases SOPKARD-Junior” (SOPKARD-Junior), a preventive health program implemented in public elementary schools from 2017 to 2019. The results from 381 children with a mean age of 11.67 (SD = 1.52) were analyzed. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Surveys were conducted to assess parents’ perceptions of their child’s weight, along with their sociodemographic status. Nearly one in three parents were unable to correctly identify their children’s weight; 25.0% underestimated it, and 6.0% overestimated it. Underestimation was observed along with an increase in the children’s BMI weight category, with as many as 57.1% of parents of obese children misclassifying their weight. The child’s BMI was the only significant predictor of incorrect assessment. Polish parents cannot properly assess their children’s BMI, especially when their child is overweight or obese. In children, weight and height measurements should be taken regularly, rather than allowing weight category to be dependent upon parental weight assessments.

Underestimation of overweight weight status in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Perceptions of children's weight status may be important in obesity prevention and treatment.

AIMS

This review identifies the prevalence of the underestimation of overweight status in children by parents/main carers, children, and healthcare professionals (HCP). The review critically synthesized both quantitative and qualitative evidence to explore the factors associated with this underestimation. The diverse methods used to assess this phenomenon are reported.

METHODS

Pooled effect sizes were calculated using random-effects model. Published studies, up to 2020, were accessed using the following search engines: CINAHL, EMBASE, PUBMED, and Psych-Info and including the "Cited by" and "Related Articles" functions. Hand-searching was used to retrieve further articles. Publication language and location had no bearing on the nature of the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 91 articles were included. In the quantitative studies, 55% (95% CI 49%-61%) of caregivers underestimated their child's level of overweight and obesity using a verbal scale and 47% (95% CI 36%-55%) using visual scales. Of the children studied, 34% (95% CI 25%-43%) underestimated their own level of overweight and obesity using both scales. In (n = 3) articles, HCPs reflected this misperception, but limited studies prevented meta-analysis. Underestimation was associated with the child's age, gender, BMI and parental weight status, ethnicity and education. In the qualitative studies, parents/main carers of children with overweight and obesity described their child's weight in terms other than overweight, for example, "big boned," "thick," and "solid."

CONCLUSION

The results confirm the prevalence of underestimation of child overweight status across international studies. Understanding the factors which lead to this inaccuracy may help to improve communication within the therapeutic triad and facilitate the recognition and management of children's overweight status.

Parental perceptions and practices regarding sugar intake by school-aged children: A qualitative study with Portuguese parents

Excessive sugar intake is one of the factors contributing to the alarming rates of childhood obesity and overweight in Portugal. Children's preferences and food consumption patterns are largely determined by the foods that are more familiar to them. Parents and caregivers are responsible for shaping children's eating habits since they are the ones who choose the food available in the household. The present study explores parental perceptions about sugar and sugar intake and its consequences on children's health. Moreover, we also examined the practices that parents use to regulate their children's diet, namely, to promote the consumption of desired foods (e.g., vegetables) and limit the intake of undesired food (e.g., sweets), and the perceived barriers and facilitators of sugar intake regulation. To this end, 42 interviews were conducted with parents of school-aged children (ages 6-10 years). A thematic analysis revealed that parents perceive sugar as highly negative (e.g., "evil", "poison", "addiction") and its consumption as harmful (e.g., hyperactivity; overweight). Nonetheless, the view that sugary food consumption is not necessarily problematic was also common. Indeed, most parents considered that sugar intake should be regulated but not forbidden. To control the intake of sugary foods (e.g., sodas, cookies), they reported using strategies such as restriction, explanation, or negotiation. Several barriers to sugar intake regulation were identified (e.g., birthday parties, parents' lack of knowledge), but also a few facilitators (e.g., bringing food from home to school). Our findings may inform the development of interventions or policies to promote healthier eating habits in school-age children.

Sex-specific differences in somatic investment and strategies of physical activity among Portuguese schoolchildren

OBJECTIVES

Physical activity (PA) is required for healthy growth, development, and maturation and plays an important role in the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Sex-differences in PA levels are well documented, with boys spending more time in PA, especially in moderate-to-vigorous activities. Following the Life History Theory, our aim is to study if PA affects the fat tissues increases during childhood and juvenile phases in both sexes.

METHODS

Time spent in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous PA levels were measured in a sample of 415 Portuguese children and juveniles (207 females/208 males; aged 6-11 years), using an accelerometer for 7 days. Skinfolds related with body fat were objectively collected and socioeconomic status factors were reported using a parental questionnaire.

RESULTS

The outcomes show that girls' and boys' fat variables increased during the end of the childhood and the juvenile phase. However, these variables were differently affected by PA. Girls increased fat variables with the sedentary activity while boys decreased fat variables with moderate-to-vigorous PA. Alike, active boys but not girls reduced the fat increase tendency with age.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both sexes displayed a general fat increment with age, moderate-to-vigorous PA dampens the increase only in boys. In fact, active girls increased body fat in the same manner as non-active girls. From an evolutionary perspective, it could explain sex-specific somatic strategies related to future reproduction or, with future mating and intrasexual competition.

Actual Weight, Perceived Weight and Desired Weight of Romanian School Children by Parents and Children

Background and Objectives: The perception of the body weight by children and parents influences the consequent actions undertaken for children’s body weight management. This study investigated the correspondence between objective evaluations of Romanian school children (actual weight) and perceptions about weight (perceived weight), preoccupation with body weight management (desired weight) and parents’ perceptions on children’s weight. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was performed among 344 children aged 11 to 14 and 147 parents from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We made anthropometric measurements of children, and short questionnaires were completed by the children and the parents. Results: The results show that 3.8% of children were underweight, 68.3% had a normal weight and 27.9% were overweight. Of this sample, 61.5% of underweight children, 20% of normal weight children and 43.7% of overweight children had misperceptions about their weight. The percentage of parents who did not estimate their children’s weight correctly was 50%, 11.9% and 41.5%, respectively, for each of the three weight groups. The results of the logistic regression analyses showed that several factors were associated with the misclassification of their own body weight by the children, such as body mass index, gender, weight management practices, misclassification by the parents as well as parent–child discussions on these issues. Conclusions: Education for both Romanian parents and children is needed with regard to correctly identifying and managing children’ body weight.