title: Head Start children's lifestyle behaviors, parental perceptions of weight, and body mass index.
abstract: This study examined lifestyle behaviors (food intake, active play, and screen time), parental perception of children's weight, and body mass index (BMI) of children enrolled in Head Start. Ninety-six parent-child dyads participated. Obesity prevalence (15.6%) was higher than the national average (10.4%); however, most parents (86.5%) of obese children did not perceive their children as obese. Regardless of BMI, food intake and active play levels generally did not meet recommended guidelines. Further, children who were less active were more likely to eat snacks (chi(2) = 6.24, p < or = .04). The role of pediatric nurses in counseling and referring Head Start families is explored.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA. hudsonc@musc.edu
authors.forename: Cindy E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.forename: Lynx C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: McClellan
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires