New Study: Nearly 40% of Parents Can't Accurately Pinpoint Their Children's Weight

Childhood obesity is rising fast in many countries, and the results from a new study may point to one of the reasons. Data from an Australian study found that just over 40% of parents of both underweight and overweight children didn't see a problem with their children's weight. The trend is startling, and makes it easy to see why eating habits and exercise patterns are not changing. A significant number of parents don't even see the problem that's in front of them.

Dr Pene Schmidt, a doctoral researcher who led the study said, "Parents are more likely to take the necessary preventative actions if the perception of their child's weight - whether underweight or overweight - is correct."

The work was completed at the University of Melbourne's School of Behavioural Science and included 2,100 children, using both Body Mass Index and waist circumference measurements to classify subjects into three distinct groups - "underweight", "overweight" and "average". Next, these measurements were compared to the recorded perceptions of the parents, and the children themselves.

In total, 43% of parents of underweight children placed their child in the "average" bracket.

For the overweight children, the parental misperception climbed to 49%.

On the kid's side, 6 out of 10 underweight girls, and 5 out of 10 underweight boys didn't see their weight accurately.

Perceptions like these are hard to change.

Boys were more often perceived as underweight by their parents; while girls were more likely to be classified as overweight. Twice as many parents expressed concern about their child being overweight rather than underweight.

The study also calls into question the tools currently in use to assess a child's weight - BMI and waist circumference. According to BMI, more children in the Australian study were classified as overweight than would be if waist circumference were used. This may indicate the need for a hard look at the way weight is measured for children, while also pointing out the need for more information and resources for parents.

Obesity continues to be a concern for the health and well being of adults and children in the United States and around the world.

Adult men in the U.S. have an obesity percentage of 33.3%, while U.S. women are at 35.3%. For children and adolescents, 16.3% fall into the obese category.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), obesity raises the risk of...

- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancers (endometrial, breast and colon)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
- Stroke
- Liver and Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and underlying bone in a joint)
- Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

What worries healthcare workers is that being "big" is becoming more socially accepted all the time. Think about plus size models and clothing designed for heavier people. Restaurant potions are big and getting bigger. Celebrities battle their weight... some publicly, some with surgery, and some seemingly not at all. Think too about the accommodations that have been made to airline travel - and public transportation in general.

It seems our perceptions of children's weight (and our own) are being skewed... and rather than fighting the additional pounds when they start to become unhealthy more and more of us are taking them along for the ride.