Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: The childhood obesity epidemic requires a sense of urgency and new avenues for prevention focused on the first five years of life. Parental perception of early childhood weight is an important concept. Parents can shape early eating and physical activity patterns in their children. If parents are unable/unwilling to recognize that their child is at risk for overweight, they cannot intervene early to prevent further excess weight gain. Furthermore, if perception influences the use of parental feeding practices, particularly a perception that is incorrect, parents may inadvertently employ practices that facilitate the development of overweight/obesity in their child. Understanding parental weight perception within this age-group during a time that reveals great potential for obesity prevention is of great importance. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Using the infant cohort data (wave 2 and 3) of the longitudinal growing up in Ireland (GUI) study, (children aged 3 and 5 respectively), we aim to examine firstly, if there is evidence of parental weight misclassification within this cohort. Next, the factors associated with the inaccuracy (if any) of parental perception of the child's weight are examined (e.g. parental education and younger parents). Finally, we observe if parental misclassification alters as the child gets older (that is from age three to age five). Estimating the marginal effects using probit models, the results indicate a notable lack of awareness in Irish mothers of overweight 3–5 year olds about their children’s weight status, more so for mothers of three year olds (wave 2). Findings: Across both waves, children whose mother is overweight or obese are more likely to misclassify their child’s weight. Conclusion & Significance: Before early childhood specific behavioral interventions can be developed and tested, additional research examining techniques to influence parental perception are needed.

Biography

Email: michelle.queally@nuigalway.ie