Does childhood overweight, parental perception of overweight, or family history of diabetes mellitus increase parental perception of type 2 diabetes risk for their child?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate factors that influence parental perception of diabetes mellitus risk for their child.


METHODS
Self-administered survey of parents in a managed care plan.


RESULTS
Child overweight status, family history of type 2 diabetes, and accurate parental perception of their child's overweight status were independent predictors of parental worry about diabetes and perception of greater diabetes risk for their child.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate parental perception of their child's weight status and a family history of type 2 diabetes may serve as useful motivators in the clinical setting for diabetes prevention.
Lee
Joyce M
JM
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, USA. joyclee@umich.edu
Woolford
Susan
S
Herman
William H
WH
Clark
Sarah J
SJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires