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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284436
Title: Parents under-report body mass index and obesity

Author
item MORENO, JENNY - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item JOHNSTON, CRAIG - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item HOLMES, CHRISTIAN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item PAPAIOANNOU, MARIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FOREYT, JOHN - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Annual Scientific Meeting NAASO, The Obesity Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2012
Publication Date: 9/21/2012
Citation: Moreno, J.P., Johnston, C.A., Holmes, C.E., Papaioannou, M.A., Foreyt, J.P. 2012. Parents under-report body mass index and obesity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of 30th Annual Scientific Meeting NAASO, The Obesity Society, September 20-24, 2012, San Antonio, Texas. p. s177.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The rates of childhood overweight and obesity are epidemic in the United States, with approximately 34 percent of children classified as either overweight or obese. However, it is not clear if parents are able to accurately assess whether their child falls into the overweight or obese category. The current study sought to assess the amount of misclassification of weight classification by parents. Parents of children ages 5-12 completed a demographic survey and were asked to report their child's height and weight. Actual measurements of child height and weight were conducted. BMI percentiles were calculated for parent report and actual measurements of height and weight according to CDC guidelines. Significant differences were found for BMI percentiles based on parent report and actual measurements of child height and weight. Using parent reported height and weight, BMI percentile was under-reported by about 5 percentile points. Overall, Parents correctly classified their children 70 percent of the time. Of those who misclassified their children, 71 percent under reported their child's BMI. Parents do not appear to be accurate reporters of heights and weights for children in the overweight and obese range. This inaccuracy may lead parents to be less likely to seek treatment or take steps to address these health concerns.