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Systematic review and meta-analysis
Half of parents underestimate the weight of their overweight or obese children
  1. Min Hae Park
  1. Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to : Dr Min Hae Park, Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK; minhae.park{at}lshtm.ac.uk

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Implications for practice and research

  • Parental underestimation of child weight is widespread and is a barrier to engagement with obesity interventions.

  • Correcting parental perceptions may be of limited benefit if perceptions are not accompanied by changes in perceived health risk and lifestyle.

  • Research is needed to identify effective interventions for encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviours among families, regardless of their child's weight status.

Context

It is estimated that one in four children and adolescents in developed countries is overweight or obese.1 Childhood obesity is associated with several adverse health outcomes in childhood and later life. Parental involvement is considered a vital component of effective interventions for the …

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.