Abstract
Objective: To establish whether maternal perception of a child's body weight (BW) and food intake is related to the level of maternal education. Study design: Height and BW of 569 mother/child couples were measured, and mothers received a questionnaire regarding their perception of their own weight and their child's BW and food intake. Results: Twenty-nine percent of mothers and 35% of children were overweight or obese. Only 10% of the mothers underestimated their own weight, while 37% overestimated it. In contrast, 28% of mothers underestimated their child's BW, while 9% overestimated it. Higher maternal instruction level was significantly associated to a lower weight class in both mothers and children, and to a correct perception of the child's weight. Fifty-seven per cent of the mothers who perceived their child to be overweight or obese were not concerned. Forty-four per cent of the mothers with overweight or obese children believed that their child was eating correctly. Conclusions: A better understanding of how mothers perceive the problem of excess weight in their children is relevant to the success of preventive interventions in childhood obesity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 747-752 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2005 |
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Keywords
- Childhood obesity
- Food intake
- Maternal education
- Overweight
- Perception
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Maternal perception of excess weight in children : A survey conducted by paediatricians in the province of Milan. / Genovesi, Simonetta; Giussani, Macro; Faini, Andrea; Vigorita, Federico; Pieruzzi, Federico; Strepparava, Maria Grazia; Stella, Andrea; Valsecchi, Maria Grazia.
In: Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Vol. 94, No. 6, 06.2005, p. 747-752.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal perception of excess weight in children
T2 - A survey conducted by paediatricians in the province of Milan
AU - Genovesi, Simonetta
AU - Giussani, Macro
AU - Faini, Andrea
AU - Vigorita, Federico
AU - Pieruzzi, Federico
AU - Strepparava, Maria Grazia
AU - Stella, Andrea
AU - Valsecchi, Maria Grazia
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - Objective: To establish whether maternal perception of a child's body weight (BW) and food intake is related to the level of maternal education. Study design: Height and BW of 569 mother/child couples were measured, and mothers received a questionnaire regarding their perception of their own weight and their child's BW and food intake. Results: Twenty-nine percent of mothers and 35% of children were overweight or obese. Only 10% of the mothers underestimated their own weight, while 37% overestimated it. In contrast, 28% of mothers underestimated their child's BW, while 9% overestimated it. Higher maternal instruction level was significantly associated to a lower weight class in both mothers and children, and to a correct perception of the child's weight. Fifty-seven per cent of the mothers who perceived their child to be overweight or obese were not concerned. Forty-four per cent of the mothers with overweight or obese children believed that their child was eating correctly. Conclusions: A better understanding of how mothers perceive the problem of excess weight in their children is relevant to the success of preventive interventions in childhood obesity.
AB - Objective: To establish whether maternal perception of a child's body weight (BW) and food intake is related to the level of maternal education. Study design: Height and BW of 569 mother/child couples were measured, and mothers received a questionnaire regarding their perception of their own weight and their child's BW and food intake. Results: Twenty-nine percent of mothers and 35% of children were overweight or obese. Only 10% of the mothers underestimated their own weight, while 37% overestimated it. In contrast, 28% of mothers underestimated their child's BW, while 9% overestimated it. Higher maternal instruction level was significantly associated to a lower weight class in both mothers and children, and to a correct perception of the child's weight. Fifty-seven per cent of the mothers who perceived their child to be overweight or obese were not concerned. Forty-four per cent of the mothers with overweight or obese children believed that their child was eating correctly. Conclusions: A better understanding of how mothers perceive the problem of excess weight in their children is relevant to the success of preventive interventions in childhood obesity.
KW - Childhood obesity
KW - Food intake
KW - Maternal education
KW - Overweight
KW - Perception
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20544473826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=20544473826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08035250510028894
DO - 10.1080/08035250510028894
M3 - Article
C2 - 16188779
AN - SCOPUS:20544473826
VL - 94
SP - 747
EP - 752
JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
SN - 0803-5253
IS - 6
ER -