Parents of overweight kids view them as healthy
‘Junior isn’t fat, he’s just big-boned’
Parents of obese children often don’t view their kids as unhealthy or recognize the health consequences of excess weight or inactivity, according to a new study.
The study surveyed slightly more than 200 families to evaluate whether they helped their children lose weight. It found that 28 percent of the parents did not perceive their child’s weight as a health concern, despite the fact that obesity can lead to various health risks, such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
Thirty-one percent of the parents thought their child’s health was excellent or very good.
If the parents themselves were obese, they were less likely to be helping their children change. Most of the children (94 percent) were obese, and their pediatrician referred them to a clinic for help in slimming down. The other 6 percent were overweight.
The study was published online this month in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
— John Petrick