Original article

Parents' perception of their own and their child's weight in relation to objectively measured body mass index

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Abstract

Aim: To examine the association between parental and child body mass index (BMI), and parental perceptions of their own and their child's weight in relation to measured BMI.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,343 children aged 3–6 years and 1,343 parents from primary healthcare centres and preschool institutions in Sarajevo. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, parental weight perceptions, and anthropometric parameters were collected using a questionnaire. BMI was calculated according to the National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommendations.

Results: The mean parental BMI was 25.1±3.8. Overall, 460 (34.25%) parents were overweight and 140 (10.43%) were obese. Among children, 171 (12.7%) were underweight, 790 (58.8%) had normal weight, 159 (11.9%) were overweight, and 223 (16.6%) were obese. Higher parental BMI was associated with lower relative risk of underweight (RRR=0.94; 95%CI = 0.89–0.99; p=0.021), slightly higher risk of overweight (RRR=1.04; 95%CI = 1.00–1.09; p = 0.047), and higher risk of obesity (RRR=1.09; 95% CI = 1.04–1.13; p<0.001). Parental perception of child weight status differed significantly from measured BMI (p<0.001), with very low sensitivity for child overweight and obesity of 10.5% (95%CI 7.8–13.9) and specificity of 99.2% (95%CI 98.4–99.6). Among parents, 100 overweight and 105 obese individuals perceived themselves as normal weight.

Conclusion: Parental BMI was positively associated with child BMI. Misperception of parent and child weight was common, supporting improved awareness and targeted prevention.

Keywords: body weight, childhood obesity, nutrition