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Parental Perception of Children’s Weight Status: Love Overpasses Scientific Evidence! A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Introduction: Age, gender, body mass index percentiles and the adherence to Mediterranean diet were investigated as potential predictor factors in this assessment. Aim: To assess the parental perception of children's weight status. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out during a corporate wellness program (Ferrari Formula Benessere) implemented by Ferrari S.p.A. and managed by Med-Ex s.r.l. The children’s real weight status was assessed through Body Mass Index percentiles (ArthroPlus software—WHO). Results: 328 children (66.4%) were normal-weight, 10 were underweight (2%), 66 were overweight (13.4%) and 90 were obese (18.2%). 289 children (59%) were classified correctly by parents, while 205 children (41%) were not. 64 of 66 overweight children and 90 of 90 children with obesity have been completely underestimated (53 of 90 children with obesity were judged normal weight). The parents’ probability to estimate children’s weight status correctly decreased increasing body mass index percentiles paradoxically [OR = 0.96 (0.95–0.97)] and was lower in boys [OR = 0.65 (0.44–0.98)]. Although not statistically significant, children with higher adherence to Mediterranean diet seems to have higher probability to be correctly estimated [low adherence: reference, medium adherence: OR = 1.06 (0.61–1.85), high adherence: OR = 1.48 (0.81–2.75)]. Conclusions: A high percentage of children is overweight or obese and almost half of parents classified their weight status incorrectly. Increasing children’s body mass index percentiles decreases the probability to be correctly classified.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Parents
Percentile
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Pediatric Obesity
Mediterranean diet
Adolescent
Sex Factor
Overweight
Diet, Mediterranean
Weight Gain
Childhood obesity
Body Mass Index
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Sex Factors
Child Development
Internal Medicine
medicine
Humans
Age Factor
Parent-Child Relations
Child
Cross-Sectional Studie
business.industry
Age Factors
Adolescent Development
medicine.disease
Obesity
Love
030104 developmental biology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Parental perception
Parent
Child, Preschool
Observational study
Underweight
medicine.symptom
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
business
Body mass index
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Demography
Human
Parent-Child Relation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....72fb6608eb94ee5e97aaf475d7239871