Relationships among body mass index, parental perceptions, birthweight and parental weight after referral to a weight clinic.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether, in a specialty referral clinic, parental perceptions of their child's obesity were commensurate with the child's body mass index z score. Secondarily, we examined the impact of birth weight and parental body mass index on their child's body mass index z score and review results of an intake questionnaire.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study


METHODS
University of Michigan from March 21, 2003 through June 30, 2004


METHODS
Eighty-two children ages 1-20.2 years of age


METHODS
Body mass index z score for all participants was calculated. An intake questionnaire was completed by caregivers in which they were asked to describe their child as little overweight, overweight, very overweight or obese.


METHODS
Mean body mass index z score was compared to each parental descriptor. Regression analysis related body mass index z score to birthweight and parental body mass index.


RESULTS
Body mass index z score was not related to parental descriptors. Maternal body mass index and child birthweight were predictors of the child's body mass index z score (r2=0.15, p<0.05; and r2=0.11, p<0.05, respectively). Both together produced a better model than either alone (r2=0.23, p<0.05). There was no relationship between paternal and child body mass index z score (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a divergence between the parental perception of childhood obesity and the clinical definition that persists even in the context of an explicit referral. Given the significant impact of maternal weight on childhood overweight, education for prevention of overweight youth should encompass prenatal, early childhood and adolescent health maintenance.
Watkins
Mark G
MG
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0718, USA.
Clark
Kathryn M
KM
Foster
Carol M
CM
Welch
Kathleen B
KB
Kasa-Vubu
Josephine Z
JZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires