1.Parental perception of children’s weight status and sociodemographic factors associated with childhood obesity
Noor Shafina Mohd Nor ; Abdul Rasyid Ariffien ; Anis Siham Zainal Abidin ; Nor Izwah Mohamed Kamarudin ; Jamaluddin Mohamad
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(3):221-225
Introduction: The trend of childhood obesity is on the rise
and hence leading towards the increase in obesity related
complications. Early recognition of obesity in children and
accurate parental perception of the status of the weight of
their children is vital. Furthermore, identification of
sociodemographic risk factors contributing to obesity is
crucial in order to identify children who are in the risk group
and thus prevent potential complications. This study is
aimed to establish the parental perception of the status of
the weight of their children. Secondly, the study also to
identify the sociodemographic risk factors associated with
obesity in children.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 245
children from 5 to 12 years of age. Following informed
consent, the children were classified into either normal
(body mass index (BMI) >5th to <85th percentile), overweight
(BMI >85th to <95th percentile) or obese (BMI >95th
percentile) groups. Parents responded to questionnaires
which assessed their perception and sociodemographic
factors.
Results: A total of 157 participants (64.1%) had normal BMI
while 41(16.7%) were overweight and 47(19.2%) were obese.
More parents of overweight and obese group had
misperceptions of their children’s weight status (p=0.001).
Families with higher household income, children with higher
birth weight, higher education of mothers and family history
of obesity and type 2 diabetes had increased risk of higher
BMI among their children (p=0.029, p=0.013, p=0.041 and
p=0.001 respectively).
Conclusions: Most parents of either overweight or obese
children had inaccurate perception of the status of weight of
their children. Higher household income, birth weight and
education level of the mothers as well as history of diabetes
and obesity in the family are associated with increased risk
of childhood obesity