Factors Influencing Parents' and Children's Misperception of Children's Weight Status: a Systematic Review of Current Research

Maternal misperception of under-five children weight status and associated factors: A cross-sectional study

Maternal perceptions, about the nutritional status of their children, may have implications for timely health care seeking and feeding behaviour. Shreds of evidence are limited in this area that assessed maternal perception about the nutritional status of the children in the context of Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to assess the differences in mothers' perceptions about their children's nutritional status who are less than 5 years of age and their associated factors in the context of urban slum areas. A cross-sectional study (Quantitative approach) was conducted in two of the largest urban slums of Dhaka city. A total of 437 mother-children dyads were included in the final analysis. The outcome of interest was the mother's 'varied perceptions' regarding the nutritional status of their children under five. 'Varied perception' refers to the difference between a mother's subjective assessment of her child's nutritional condition and the anthropometrically measured nutritional status. The prevalence of mother's varied perceptions was around 46%, and among them, 37% of mothers underestimated and 9% overestimated their child's nutritional status. 'The child doesn't want to eat' (AOR = 3.69; 95% CI: 2.34-5.85; p < 0.001) and 'Feels light when carried' (AOR = 3.39; 95% CI: 1.69-6.81; p = 0.001) were the significant reasons behind the mother's perception about the nutritional status of their under-five children. About one in two mothers' perceptions about their children varied from the anthropometry-derived status. Various research findings indicate that providing health education on proper feeding practices for children, along with anthropometric measurements, can assist mothers in enhancing their understanding and assessing their child's nutritional status with greater accuracy. Further qualitative research may be instrumental in getting deeper insights into maternal perception to develop context-specific interventions.

Parent-child associations of sleep quality: is physical activity a confounder? The EPI-FAMILY health study

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of sleep deprivation has increased in pediatric populations, however, the relationship with physical activity (PA) remains uncertain and lacks evidence. Although some studies have shown that parents' lifestyle habits can influence this process, one point that requires further clarification in the literature is whether parents' sleep quality is linked to that of their children and whether parents' physical activity could play an important role in these possible relationships.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship of sleep quality between parents and children and verify the role of physical activity in this association.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Mini Sleep Questionnaire. The amount of sleep was estimated by the number of hours slept. PA domains (occupational activities, leisure, and active commuting) were assessed using the Baecke questionnaire, while moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was assessed with an accelerometer. Socioeconomic status was obtained through a questionnaire. The relationship of sleep quality between parents and children was carried out using hierarchical models with Binary Logistic Regression, where the factors were inserted one by one (1. unadjusted model; 2. sociodemographic variables; 3. children's PA; 4. parents' PA).

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 102 children and adolescents (6-17 years), 92 mothers, and 69 fathers. Poor sleep quality of mothers was associated with their children's sleep quality (OR = 3.95; 95%CI = 1.33-11.38; P = 0.013). After inserting mothers' PA intensity into the final model, the associations remained significant (OR = 8.05; 1.33-48.59; P = 0.023). No relationship was observed between poor sleep quality of fathers and their children's sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between poor sleep quality of mothers and that of their children remained significant, regardless of confounding variables.

Association between cardiovascular risk and maternal perception of BMI in Peruvian schoolchildren

Introduction

In the modern era, the maternal perception of children's nutritional status has emerged as a critical area of study, given its potential influence on nutritional interventions and long-term child health. The relationship between this perception and children's Body Mass Index (BMI) by age is particularly intriguing, as it may reveal discrepancies between perception and reality.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate Peruvian mothers' perception of their children's Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to age and to determine how this perception associates with the children's cardiovascular risk. The study also analyzed sociodemographic factors that might influence this perception.

Methods

The study included 130 mothers of schoolchildren aged 5 to 11 from a school in Lima. Mothers' perceptions of their children's weight were assessed using pictograms, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected through a questionnaire. Weight and height measurements were taken to calculate BMI, and waist circumference was measured to classify cardiovascular risk.

Results

A total of 57.4% of the schoolchildren presented with excess malnutrition, and 51.5% of the mothers incorrectly classified the actual BMI/Age of their children (kappa 0.11; p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, it was found that the schoolchild's age is associated with the mother's failure to accurately perceive her child's weight (OR 1.59). Lastly, there was a significant association between maternal perception and cardiovascular risk (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

There is a significant discrepancy between maternal perception and the actual nutritional status of children, which can increase cardiovascular risk. It is necessary to implement intervention and education strategies targeted at parents to enhance the recognition and management of childhood overweight and obesity.

Less underestimaton of excess weight by the categorical than the visual method. Its determinants and feeding practices in Mexican mothers of children aged 2 to 12 years

Introduction

Introduction: perceived body weight refers to the subjectively assessed weight, which may not correspond to the objectively measured weight. Statistics show that 14 % to 83 % of parents misperceive their children's weight status, with a propensity for underestimation. Objective: we compared the accuracy of the visual versus the categorical method. We also identified factors and feeding practices associated with excess weight underestimation. Material and methods: we carried out a cross-sectional study in five states of Mexico with 1,845 mother-child dyads of children aged 2-12 years. The mothers were interviewed about weight perception with two methods, visual and categorical. The Child Feeding Questionnaire identified maternal feeding practices. Actual weight and height were categorized according to WHO criteria. Analysis consisted of Cohen's kappa estimation, multivariate logistic regression, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: more mothers correctly identified the weight of their children with the categorical than with the visual method (68 % vs 42 %, p < 0.0001). The excess weight underestimation was lower (49 % vs 82 %, p < 0.0001) and the degree of agreement was higher with the categorical method (kappa, 0.39 and 0.08). The better results remained regardless of age. Age 2-5 years increased the odds of overweight/obesity underestimation. Feeding practices differed by weight perception category, child's age, and method of assessment. Conclusions: the categorical method was more accurate. Recognition of correct weight perception is one of the first actions required for controlling childhood overweight/obesity.

Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in childhood obesity in Spain

INTRODUCTION

Childhood obesity is inversely associated with household socioeconomic status in high-income countries. Our aim was to explore the association between childhood weight status and household socioeconomic status in Spain in relation to family characteristics, perceptions and lifestyle habits and the school environment.

METHODS

We performed a descriptive analysis of child weight status according to family socioeconomic factors and mediating variables based on data from the ALADINO 2019 study in a sample of 16,665 schoolchildren representative of the population aged 6-9 years in Spain.

RESULTS

The prevalence of childhood obesity in households with low socioeconomic status (26.8% boys; 20.4% girls) was, in both sexes, twice as high as in those with higher socioeconomic status (12.1% boys; 8.7% girls). Unhealthy eating habits, sedentary lifestyles (mainly in girls) and the presence of screens in the bedroom (more prevalent in boys) were more frequent in school-aged children from low-income households. On the other hand, in the most disadvantaged households, a history of breastfeeding and physical activity (especially in girls) were less frequent. Similarly, schools attended by children from low-income households were less likely to have their own kitchens and indoor gymnasiums or offer sports activities.

CONCLUSION

A lower household socioeconomic status was associated with poorer dietary and physical activity habits and certain characteristics of the family and school environments that mediate the inverse association between household socioeconomic status and the prevalence of childhood obesity. Girls were less physically active and reported more sedentary lifestyles, while boys had greater access to screens. Interventions to combat childhood obesity should address the identified inequalities.

How do looking patterns, anti-fat bias, and causal weight attributions relate to adults' judgements of child weight?

Prevailing weight-normative approaches to health pressure adults to visually categorise children's weight, despite little understanding of how such judgements are made. There is no evidence this strategy improves child health, and it may harm children with higher weights. To understand decision-making processes and identify potential mechanisms of harm we examined perceptual and attitudinal factors involved in adults' child weight category judgements. Eye movements of 42 adults were tracked while categorizing the weight of 40 computer-generated images of children (aged 4-5 & 10-11 years) varying in size. Questionnaires assessed child-focused weight bias and causal attributions for child weight. Participants' eye movement patterns resembled those previously reported for adult bodies. Categorisation data showed a perceptual bias towards the 'mid-range' category. For higher weight stimuli, participants whose category judgements most closely matched the stimulus's objective weight had higher child-focused anti-fat bias and weaker genetic attributions for child weight - i.e,. adults who 'label' higher weight in children in line with BMI categories report more stigmatising beliefs about such children, suggesting a possible mechanism of harm. Overall, adults' judgements reflect both unalterable perceptual biases and potentially harmful attitudinal factors, calling into question the feasibility and appropriateness of public health efforts to promote visual child weight categorisation.

Effect of migrant parents' bodyweight perception on children's body bodyweight: A longitudinal analysis of population cohort study

Children of migrants in Australia are disproportionally affected by overweight/obesity. Their parents, however, are likely to put little effort into lifestyle changes if unable to recognise their children's suboptimal bodyweight. We examined the potential impact of migrant parents' bodyweight perception on their children's bodyweight over time and whether the region-of-birth of parents and acculturation to the host nation's way of life moderated the relationship, as very little is known about these in the Australian context. We analysed a sample of 2046 children of migrant parents drawn from 8 waves of population-based cohort data, the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, capturing their lived experience from ages 2 to 17. After controlling for child, parent, family, and neighbourhood factors influencing children's bodyweight, multilevel models showed higher children's bodyweight in subsequent waves if their parents perceived children's bodyweight as lower than their actual bodyweight (i.e., underestimation). However, the rate of increase in children's bodyweight attenuated over time. The effect of migrant parents' underestimation on children's subsequent bodyweight differed by region-of-birth, with higher children's bodyweight in successive waves if their parents were from the Americas, compared to migrant parents from North/West Europe. Parents' acculturation, however, did not have a discernible effect. Although migrant parents' bodyweight perception of their children's bodyweight status influenced children's bodyweight in subsequent waves, this factor was not enough to explain the extent of disparities in children's bodyweight observed in the Australian migrant population. Further research is needed to assess the effects of other types of perception (such as perceptions of healthy weight and physical exercise) on bodyweight disparities in children of migrants.

Parental Misperceptions of Their Offspring's Weight and Their Strategies for Child's Eating Behavior: A Narrative Review of the Recent Evidence

The aim of the present review was to explore the effect of parental misperceptions of their offspring’s weight status during childhood and early adolescence on weight control strategies and children’s eating behavior. Literature searching was limited to the PubMed database and to the English language from January 2000 to August 2022. Eligible studies had clearly associated parental misperception of offspring’s weight with child eating habits or weight management and eating strategies in childhood to early adolescence. Sixteen studies (14 cross-sectional, 1 longitudinal and 1 with cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses) were included in the analysis. Weight loss attempts and child’s eating behavior were the main outcomes. Sixteen studies found significant associations. Parental misperceptions of their offspring’s weight status do influence their child’s weight and eating behavior, especially in overweight children. Parents tend to follow potentially harmful methods when they overestimate their children’s weight (food restriction) and when they underestimate their children’s weight (pressure to eat). However, additional longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the impact of parental weight status perception on health behaviors and children’s weight gain over time. The potential need for preventive intervention studies is warranted.

Impacts of an early childhood obesity prevention program in Mexico

The Healthy Change Program aimed to improve the accuracy of maternal perceptions of children's weight (MPCW), maternal feeding style (MFS) and feeding practices. Using a randomized control trial design, the intervention group received 4-weekly group sessions focusing on MPCW, MFS and healthy behaviors. The control group received the same dose of attention-control sessions on food hygiene. Data were collected at the baseline and at the end of the program via self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Participants included 294 mother-child dyads with 149 in the intervention group and 145 in the control group. The accuracy of MPCW significantly increased at the study end point in the intervention group (57.0-67.1%, P < 0.05) but not in the control group (67.6-69.7%, P > 0.05), with no between-group difference in pre- and post-change (P > 0.05). At the study end point, more mothers of overweight and obese children in the intervention group had accurate MPCW than their control counterparts (31.4% versus 11.1%, P < 0.01). The intervention group had a shift toward an authoritative style at the study end point (17.4% versus 26.2%, P < 0.001) and favorable changes in feeding practices. The Healthy Change Program contributed to improving the accuracy of MPCW and shifts toward favorable MFS and feeding practices.

Caregiver Perception of Weight Status in 5-Year-Old Children From a Community of High Socioeconomic Deprivation in New Zealand

Background

Early childhood obesity is highly prevalent in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Little is known about caregiver perception of children's weight status among those living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation, particularly Māori and Pacific children.

Aims

To explore caregiver perception of weight status among children starting school in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation and examine potential associations between the child's body mass index (BMI) z-score and their caregiver's perception of their child's body size or health.

Methods

Participants were 5-year-old children living in a community of high socioeconomic deprivation and their caregivers. Children had their weight and height measured. BMI z-scores were calculated according to World Health Organization standards. Caregivers were asked to assess their child's BMI and health status, and choose a silhouette that best represented their child's body size.

Results

One hundred and six children (>75% Māori or Pacific) were included. Over half (58%) had overweight or obesity, with only 16% correctly perceived by their caregiver as overweight. These children tended to have higher BMI z-scores than those not correctly perceived as overweight. Caregivers chose larger silhouettes to represent children's body sizes as children's BMI z-scores increased. There was no discernible association between children's BMI z-scores and caregiver perception of children's health.

Conclusions

Caregivers appeared to judge their child's body size in comparison to other children. The normalization of childhood obesity and infrequent caregiver recognition of this condition in children in communities with a high prevalence may impact the uptake and efficacy of intervention initiatives.

Prospective BMI changes in preschool children are associated with parental characteristics and body weight perceptions: the ToyBox-study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of the intervention implemented in the ToyBox-study on changes observed in age- and sex-specific BMI percentile and investigate the role of perinatal factors, parental perceptions and characteristics on this change.

DESIGN

A multicomponent, kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention with a cluster-randomised design. A standardised protocol was used to measure children's body weight and height. Information was also collected from parents/caregivers via the use of validated questionnaires. Linear mixed effect models with random intercept for country, socio-economic status and school were used.

SETTING

Selected preschools within the provinces of Oost-Flanders and West-Flanders (Belgium), Varna (Bulgaria), Bavaria (Germany), Attica (Greece), Mazowieckie (Poland) and Zaragoza (Spain).

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 6268 preschoolers aged 3·5-5·5 years (51·9 % boys).

RESULTS

There was no intervention effect on the change in children's BMI percentile. However, parents' underestimation of their children's actual weight status, parental overweight and mothers' pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity were found to be significantly and independently associated with increases in children's BMI percentile in multivariate modelling.

CONCLUSIONS

As part of a wide public health initiative or as part of a counseling intervention programme, it is important to assist parents/caregivers to correctly perceive their own and their children's weight status. Recognition of excessive weight by parents/caregivers can increase their readiness to change and as such facilitate higher adherence to favourable behavioural changes within the family.

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.

Parental perception of child's weight, their attitudes towards child's dietary habits and the risk of obesity

BACKGROUND

The association between parental perception of child's weight and their attitudes towards his/her dietary habits has not been reported yet. This study aimed to assess the association between parental underestimation of child's weight and parental attitudes towards child's dietary habits.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of SENDO cohort participants recruited between January 2015 and June 2020. All information was collected through online questionnaires completed by parents. We calculated crude and multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for unhealthy attitudes towards child's dietary habits associated with parental underestimation of child's weight.

RESULTS

Sixteen percent of children in the SENDO project had parents who underestimated their weight. Parents who underestimated their child's weight status were more likely to have unhealthy attitudes toward his/her dietary habits [OR 3.35; 95% CI (1.71-6.53)].

CONCLUSIONS

Parental underestimation of child's weight was associated with unhealthy attitudes towards child's dietary habits. Pediatricians and public health practitioners should pay attention to the parental perception of child's weight to identify parents who underestimate it as an at-risk group in which to inquire about lifestyle and dietary habits.

Maternal perceptions and concerns about children's weight status and diet quality: a study among Black immigrant families

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors influencing Black immigrant mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight and to compare children's diet quality according to these perceptions and concerns.

DESIGN

Mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight were assessed with sex-specific figure rating scales and the Child Feeding Questionnaire, respectively. Participants' weights and heights were measured and characterised using WHO references. Children's dietary intakes were estimated using a 24-h dietary recall. Children's diet quality was evaluated using the relative proportion of their energy intake provided by ultra-processed products, which were identified with the NOVA classification. χ2 tests, multivariate logistic regressions and t tests were performed.

SETTING

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Black immigrant mothers of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean origin (n 186) and their 6-12-year-old children.

RESULTS

Among mothers, 32·4 % perceived their child as having overweight while 48·4 % expressed concerns about child weight. Girls and children with overweight or obesity were significantly more likely to be perceived as having overweight by their mothers than boys and normal-weight children, respectively. Mothers of children living with obesity, but not overweight, were significantly more likely to be concerned about their child's weight than mothers of normal-weight children. Children's diet quality did not differ according to mothers' perceptions and concerns.

CONCLUSIONS

Children's gender and weight status were major determinants of perceptions and concerns about child weight among Black immigrant mothers. Including knowledge about mothers' perceptions and concerns about child weight will help nutrition professionals develop interventions tailored to specific family needs within the context of their cultural backgrounds.

Conservative Treatment for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Real World Follow-Up Profiling and Clinical Evolution in 1300 Patients

Background: Limited therapeutic tools and an overwhelming clinical demand are the major limiting factors in pediatric obesity management. The optimal protocol, environment, body mass index (BMI) change targets and duration of obesity-oriented interventions remain to be elucidated. Aims: We aimed to characterize the singularities of follow-up, anthropometric and metabolic evolution of a large cohort of pediatric patients with obesity in a specialized university hospital outpatient obesity unit. Patients and methods: Follow-up duration (up to seven years), attrition rate and anthropometric and metabolic evolution of 1300 children and adolescents with obesity were studied. An individualized analysis was conducted in patients attaining a high level of weight loss (over 1.5 BMI-SDS (standard deviation score) and/or 10% of initial weight; n = 252; 19.4%) as well as in "metabolically healthy" patients (n = 505; 38.8%). Results: Attrition rate was high during the early stages (11.2% prior to and 32.5% right after their initial metabolic evaluation). Mean follow-up time was 1.59 ± 1.60 years (7% of patients fulfilled 7 years). The highest BMI reduction occurred in the first year (-1.11 ± 0.89 SDS, p < 0.001 in 72.5% of patients). At the end of the follow-up, improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism parameters were observed (both p < 0.05), that were highest in patients with the greatest weight reduction (all p < 0.01), independent of the time spent to achieve weight loss. The pubertal growth spurt negatively correlated with obesity severity (r = -0.38; p < 0.01) but patients attaining adult height exceeded their predicted adult height (n = 308, +1.6 ± 5.4 cm; p < 0.001). "Metabolically healthy" patients, but with insulin resistance, had higher blood pressure, glucose, uric acid and triglyceride levels than those without insulin resistance (all p < 0.05). Preservation of the "metabolically healthy" status was associated with BMI improvement. Conclusions: Behavioral management of children with obesity can be effective and does not impair growth but is highly conditioned by high attrition. The best results regarding BMI reduction and metabolic improvement are achieved in the first year of intervention and can be preserved if follow-up is retained.

[Weight status in the 6- to 9-year-old school population in Spain: results of the ALADINO 2019 Study]

INTRODUCTION

childhood obesity is a public health problem whose prevalence has grown steadily in recent decades.

OBJECTIVE

to describe the weight status of schoolchildren aged 6 to 9 years in Spain in 2019, and their associated factors.

METHODS

ALADINO is a cross-sectional study in schoolchildren aged 6 to 9 years, representative of the Spanish population, and aligned with the Child Obesity Surveillance Initative of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Participants' weight, height, and abdominal circumference were measured, defining weight status according to different standards (WHO, IOTF, and Orbegozo). A questionnaire on lifestyle and socio-demographic characteristics was administered to parents.

RESULTS

a total of 16,665 schoolchildren from 276 schools were measured. Excess weight was observed in 40.6 %: 23.3 % overweight and 17.3 % obesity, with obesity being more prevalent in boys and overweight in girls, both increasing with age. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 22.6 %. Excess weight decreased by 3.9 percentage points since 2011, mainly due to overweight in boys. Obesity remained stable. Excess weight was more prevalent in schoolchildren with less healthy eating and physical activity habits, and in families with a lower socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSIONS

the prevalence of excess weight is high, although it has declined since 2011 and remains stable since 2015 among schoolchildren aged 6-9 years in Spain, this reduction being mainly due to a decrease in overweight in children. It is necessary to continue promoting healthy habits from the earliest stages of life, thus reducing health inequalities.

Dietary Patterns, Weight Perception and Obesity Status, among 10-12-Year-Old Children; an Epidemiological Study in Greece

Adherence to certain dietary patterns influences obesity status in both children and adults. Weight perception influences dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine children’s dietary habits and obesity status, in relation to weight perception. One thousand seven hundred Greek students enrolled in this study during 2014–2016. Children’s characteristics were assessed through validated questionnaires, and weight status was classified according to the criteria of the International Obesity Task Force. Dietary patterns were assessed through exploratory factor analysis. Overall, 52.2% of children characterized themselves as normal weight, 34.5% as low weight, and 13.3% as overweight/obese; 52.5% of children were in accordance with their actual weight status, with girls being more likely to overestimate their weight. Children followed three dietary patterns, i.e., starchy and protein foods, unhealthy/high-fat foods, and healthy foods. Children who followed the healthy dietary pattern and had accurate weight perception (in accordance with their actual weight), had lower odds of being overweight/obese (p < 0.001). Accurate weight perception in conjunction with healthy dietary habits may play a determinant role in the prevention of obesity. From a public health perspective, early identification of children’s weight misperception along with healthy dietary habit promotion shape a crucial role in childhood obesity confrontation.

Weight Misperception among African American Adolescents: The Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study

Background

Weight misperception is a common problem among adolescents; however, few studies have examined contributing factors among an exclusively African American population. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with weight misperception among 12- to 19-year-old participants in the Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study (JHS-KIDS).

Methods

Data were drawn from JHS-KIDS, a prospective, observational examination of cardiovascular-related risk factors among African American adolescents who were children or grandchildren of participants in the Jackson Heart Study. Adolescent weight misperception - discordance between measured weight status and perceived weight status - was the primary outcome of interest. Self-reported weight control behaviors, parent concerns about adolescents' weight, parent-perceived responsibility for adolescent's weight and daily hassles were the primary independent variables of interest.

Results

The analytic sample was equally divided by females (n=107) and males (n=105) and one third of study participants (33.5%) had discordance between their actual and perceived weight. Results from fully adjusted sex-stratified modified Poisson regression models indicated that weight behavior control was significant among females (PR = .66, 95%CI:1.20-2.30). Parental concerns about child weight were significant for males. Each additional point increase in the parent's concern about their weight score was associated with a 9% increase in the adjusted prevalence of weight misperception among males (95%CI: 1.03-1.16).

Conclusions

The sex-specific patterns in this study highlight heterogeneity among African American adolescents and an urgent need to consider sex and gender when developing targeted interventions for youth who are at high risk for weight misperceptions and unhealthy weight control practices.

Maternal Perception of the Child’s Weight, Lifestyle Problems and Self-Efficacy to Deal with Them

Objectives: To associate the maternal perception of the child’s weight (MPCW) and the child’s nutritional status. To describe child’s lifestyle behavior problems (CLBPs) and maternal self-efficacy (SE) to deal with them, as well as to verify differences according to children with and without overweight-obesity (OW-OB) and MPCW. Material and methods: There was participation of 274 dyads (mother-preschool child). MPCW was assessed through words and images. The mothers answered the Lifestyle Behaviour Checklist. The child’s weight and height were measured. Results: 18.8 % (n = 13) of the mothers of children with OW-OB and 78.8 % (n = 160) of the mothers of children without OW-OB obtained adequate MPCW values through words (X2 = 77.759; DoF = 1; p < .001). It was identified that the mothers of children with OW-OB reported more CLBPs and less SE. When the child’s OW-OB is perceived through words, there are more CLBPs (F = 17.041; p = .001) and less SE (U = 1,118; p = .015). Conclusions: Inadequate MPCW was predominant in mothers of children with OW-OB. When OW-OB is perceived, there are more CLBPs and fewer SE. It is recommended to promote adequate MPCW, particularly in mothers of children with OW-OB. Images assist in the identification of the child’s OW-OB more than to classify it into a category.

Dutch Preadolescents' Food Consumption at School: Influence of Autonomy, Competence and Parenting Practices

Eating habits appear to become less healthy once children move into adolescence. Adolescence is characterized by increasing independence and autonomy. Still, parents continue influencing adolescents' eating habits. This cross-sectional study used a Self-Determination Theory perspective to examine how parents can support preadolescents' food-related autonomy and competence and how these factors are associated with healthy eating motivation and food consumption at school. In addition, the effect of relative healthy food availability at home on preadolescents' food consumption at school was explored. In total, 142 Dutch preadolescents (mean age 12.18) and 81 parents completed questionnaires. The results showed that preadolescents perceived themselves as having higher food-related autonomy and lower competence to eat healthily as compared to their parents' perceptions. A path analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized model. Although parental support was positively associated with food-related autonomy, higher food-related autonomy was related to less healthy food intake at school. On the other hand, competence to eat healthily indirectly affected preadolescents' healthy intake ratio through their healthy eating motivation. Finally, the relative availability of healthy options at home was positively associated with preadolescents' healthy intake ratio outside the home. Findings from the study advance the understanding of individual and environmental factors that influence eating habits during the key life period of early adolescence. The results may inform interventions aiming to guide preadolescents to make healthy food choices on their own.

Ranking of a wide multidomain set of predictor variables of children obesity by machine learning variable importance techniques

The increased prevalence of childhood obesity is expected to translate in the near future into a concomitant soaring of multiple cardio-metabolic diseases. Obesity has a complex, multifactorial etiology, that includes multiple and multidomain potential risk factors: genetics, dietary and physical activity habits, socio-economic environment, lifestyle, etc. In addition, all these factors are expected to exert their influence through a specific and especially convoluted way during childhood, given the fast growth along this period. Machine Learning methods are the appropriate tools to model this complexity, given their ability to cope with high-dimensional, non-linear data. Here, we have analyzed by Machine Learning a sample of 221 children (6–9 years) from Madrid, Spain. Both Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Machine models have been derived to predict the body mass index from a wide set of 190 multidomain variables (including age, sex, genetic polymorphisms, lifestyle, socio-economic, diet, exercise, and gestation ones). A consensus relative importance of the predictors has been estimated through variable importance measures, implemented robustly through an iterative process that included permutation and multiple imputation. We expect this analysis will help to shed light on the most important variables associated to childhood obesity, in order to choose better treatments for its prevention.

Assessing the relationship between weight stigma, stress, depression, and sleep in Chinese adolescents

INTRODUCTION

Weight stigma is defined as the social devaluation of people with overweight or obesity, and its negative effects on the health of adolescents from western countries are well documented, but little is known about the relationships with health behaviors and outcomes in Asian youth. The prevalence of obesity among Chinese adolescents continues to increase, potentially causing negative evaluations of youth with obesity, and potentially reduced quality of life. The health effects of these negative evaluations of Chinese youth with obesity have received little attention.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between weight stigma, stress, depression, and sleep in Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

We utilized a cross-sectional study conducted in Wuhan, China. Sociodemographic, weight stigma, stress, depression, and sleep data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t test, correlations, and mediation analyses were performed. A total of 1626 adolescents between 14 and 19 years of age were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

The data showed that adolescents with weight stigma presented significantly higher level of stress and depression, lower global sleep quality, longer sleep latency, and shorter sleep duration than those without weight stigma (p < 0.05). Stress and depression mediated the relationship between weight stigma and global sleep quality (SE = 0.007, 95% CI = 0.053 to 0.081).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that adolescents who experience weight stigma may have increased stress and depressive symptoms, which are associated with poorer global sleep quality and more daytime dysfunction.