Abstract

HIRSCHLER, Valeria et al. ¿Cómo perciben las madres de niños de jardín de infantes a sus hijos con sobrepeso?. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2006, vol.104, n.3, pp.221-226. ISSN 0325-0075.

Childhood overweight is rapidly increasing in Western countries. The objective of this study was to determine the association between overweight and sex and the maternal perception of children overweight. Methods. 321 (160 male) children (age 4.39 E 0.83 y) from kindergarten schools were evaluated. At risk for overweight and overweight were defined as a body mass index > 85^th percentile or > 95^th percentile, respectively. The mothers completed written questionnaire about their perception of their children feeding habits and their body image. Results. The prevalence of at risk of overweight and overweight was 19% and 18.4%, respectively. There was a (p< 0.001) difference in the proportion of distorted perception of shape and eating habits between mothers of normal weighted children vs. at risk of overweight and overweighted children. A multiple regression analysis using BMI >95^th percentile as the dependent variable showed that mother perception of body image and feeding habits (OR: 4.5; 95% CI, 2.5-7.8 p< 0.0001) were significant age-and sex-adjusted independent risk factors for overweight. The agreement between the perception of body image and feeding habits vs. BMI > 95^th percentile was poor; kappa 0.31 E 0.07; 95% CI, 0.17-0.44 for body image and 0.14 E 0.06; 95% CI, 0.02-0.27 for feeding habits. Conclusion: This suggests that mothers perception of body image and eating behaviour of then children is a predictor of overweight.

Keywords : Overweight; distorted perception; feeding habits; body image.

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