40% of Parents Mistaken About Children’s Weight
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Research from Australia suggests that more than four in 10 parents don’t know if their children are underweight or overweight and because of this they are unlikely to help their children correct their weight. As well, the children themselves tend to underestimate or overestimate their body size.
The study also found that children who were not classified as being of normal weight were more likely to underestimate or overestimate their body size; a small percentage of parents thought their overweight children were underweight or their underweight children were overweight.
For the study, researchers analyzed survey data on over 2,100 children aged 4 to 12 living in the Australian state of Victoria. The data also included information from their parents.
The analysis showed that:
• 43 per cent of parents of underweight children thought their children were of average weight.
• 49 per cent of parents of overweight children thought their children were of average weight.
• Over 80 per cent of parents of average weight children correctly believed them to be of average weight.
• 1.4 per cent of parents of underweight children thought their children were overweight.
• 2.5 per cent of parents of overweight children thought their children were underweight.
• Parents were more likely to think their sons were underweight and their daughters were overweight.
• Only 40 per cent of underweight girls and 50 per cent of underweight boys were right about whether they were under, over or of average weight.
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