Perception of body weight status: a case control study of obese and lean children and adolescents and their parents.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate differences in weight perception and self-concept of obese and lean children, and to examine parents' awareness of overweight in themselves and their children. A total of 59 obese patients aged 7-17 years and 49 of their parents from a pediatric obesity out-patient clinic participated and were compared with 96 normal-weight patients and 81 of their parents from a pediatric pulmonary disease out-patient clinic.


METHODS
Children's and parents' self-perception of weight, desire for weight change and weight concerns, children's belief that their desired weight can be achieved, and parents' perception of their child's weight status were assessed using single questionnaire items. Children's self-concept was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children. In addition, children drew pictures about themselves and their favorite activity.


RESULTS
Obese patients wished to change their weight more frequently (p < 0.001) and had more weight concerns (p < 0.001). Their self-concept was significantly more negative. Physical activities were more common in their drawings than in those of normal-weight peers. Parents of obese children were more frequently overweight or obese themselves (p < 0.001). 35 of them and 73 parents of normal-weight children perceived their own weight realistically. Of the parents with overweight or obese children, 69.4% perceived their own child as overweight and 28.6% as very overweight, whereas 83% of them were obese.


CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents as well as their parents recognize overweight as a health problem. In the majority, weight perception matches real body weight. Most parents at least recognize overweight in their children.
Rudolph
Hagen
H
University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Blüher
Susann
S
Falkenberg
Christian
C
Neef
Madlen
M
Körner
Antje
A
Würz
Julia
J
Kiess
Wieland
W
Brähler
Elmar
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires