Parental perception of weight and weight-related behaviour in 2- to 4-year-old children in the eastern part of the Netherlands

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics 2009-03, Vol.168 (3), p.333-339
• Main Authors: Bossink-Tuna, H. N., L’Hoir, M. P., Beltman, M., Boere-Boonekamp, M. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Childrens health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior; Female; General aspects; Health care; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic diseases; Netherlands; Obesity; Original Paper; Overweight; Parent-Child Relations; Parents & parenting; Parents - psychology; Pediatrics; Preschool children; Prevention; Questionnaires; Social Perception; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0340-6199; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-008-0787-x

Parental perception of weight status and weight-related behaviour of their toddler was determined through a questionnaire survey in child health care centres (CHCs). Complete data on weight, length, sex and age were available for 635 of 682 children (93.1%). The median age of the children was 37.0 months (range 24–56 months). Of all 635 children, 76.5% were normal weight, 16.2% underweight and 7.2% overweight. Parents’ perception of the weight of their child compared with their peers was moderately related to the actual weight status. Of the parents of overweight and underweight children, 87.0% and 89.3%, respectively, were not concerned. Only the parents’ perception of the amount of food eaten by their child was significantly related to the weight status. The primary goal of CHC workers should be to create parental awareness in case of their child being overweight or underweight and to support them in accomplishing a healthy lifestyle.