[Validity of anthropometric measurements and weight perceptions reported by relatives of children under 4 years old].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity of weight and height measurements reported by parents and the perception of their children's weight status in order to assess the prevalence of overweight children under 4 years old.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data was collected by self-report questionnaires completed by parents of children 3-45 months old: 1) information from paediatric check-ups (gold standard); 2) information reported from the home environment; and 3) data from individual perceptions. WHO standards were used.


RESULTS
Reported height was underestimated, thus reported weight/height and BMI/age were overestimated. Overweight prevalence according to paediatric check-ups was 18.6%, compared to 26.5% reported prevalence, showing a moderate concordance (Kappa: 0.47 [0.34-0.60]), 70% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Subjective perception was 11.2%, representing 30% sensitivity and 93% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported information has little validity for population-based studies, as height is underestimated and overweight status is not correctly perceived due to distortion of individual perception. Questionnaires must be validated and awareness raised among families.
Servicios Municipales de Salud, Ayuntamiento de Murcia, Murcia, España. Electronic address: bpvillena.sanidad@ayto-murcia.es.
Begoña
B
Patiño-Villena
Servicio de Epidemiología, Consejería de Sanidad, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Departamento de Ciencias Socio-Sanitarias, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
María Dolores
MD
Chirlaque
Servicio de Epidemiología, Consejería de Sanidad, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Departamento de Ciencias Socio-Sanitarias, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
Diego
D
Salmerón
Servicios Municipales de Salud, Ayuntamiento de Murcia, Murcia, España.
Eduardo
E
González
Servicio de Epidemiología, Consejería de Sanidad, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, España; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España; Departamento de Ciencias Socio-Sanitarias, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
Carmen
C
Navarro
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014892:Weight Perception
Body weight and measurements; Overweight; Padres; Parents; Percepción del peso; Pesos y medidas corporales; Preescolar; Preschool; Sobrepeso; Validez de las pruebas; Validity of tests; Weight perception