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Relationship between parental perception and concern for child weight and influence on obesogenic parenting practices

Katheryn Swyden, Susan B. Sisson, Karina Lora, Ashley Weedn, Amanda Sheffield Morris, Beth DeGrace, Kristen A Copeland

Background: Parents’ perception of whether children are overweight can influence parenting practices. The purpose of this study was to examine parental perception of and concern for child weight in relation to parenting practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study of parents (n=75) with pre-school age children. Parents completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire and Parenting Strategies for Obesogenic Behaviors Questionnaire. Perception (overweight vs. not overweight) and concern (concerned vs. not concerned) of child weight were examined in relation to individual strategies (Chi-square) and feeding practices (independent t-tests). Findings were confirmed in analyses adjusted for child race, sex, and weight status. Results: Five percent of parents perceived their child as overweight; 61.3% of parents were concerned about their child becoming overweight; 36% of children were overweight. Parents who perceived their child as overweight agreed their child should always eat all of the food on his/her plate (75%, p=0.031). Concerned parents made sure their child did not eat too many sweets (89%, p=0.005), high fat foods (78%, p=0.001), or favorite foods (59%, p=0.009); kept some foods out of reach (76%, p=0.014); kept track of sweets eaten (87%, p=0.012) and television watched (83%, p=0.046). Parents with concern used restrictive feeding practices (3.6% vs. 2.9%, p=0.003) and had children with a higher BMI percentile (75.0 vs. 51.0, p=0.001). Adjustment for multiple analyses was more conservative (p≤0.003). Conclusions: Parents’ concern as to whether their child is overweight was associated with overall restrictive feeding practices and children with higher body mass. Individual strategies employed by parents with a perception of or concern for overweightness included restriction, monitoring, and pressure to eat.