Relationship between Parent Perceptions of their Child's Weight Status and Actual Weight Status Among Latinos Living in South San Diego County

The aim of this study was to determine whether several predictor variables can describe the discrepancy between subjective (i.e. self-perceived health) and objective measures (i.e. actual weight status) of weight among Latino caregivers and their children. Paired caregivers and their children (n = 784) were surveyed as part of an obesity prevention trial called Aventuras para Nińos. Direct measures were taken on BMI and BMI%ile deriving from standard formulas based on CDC's reference data. Chi-square tests, weighted Kappas and logistic regressions were used between subjective and objective weight categories. The dependent variable was child's objective weight status. The mean age for parents was 34.4±7.7 years and 5.97±0.9 years for children. Parents were 97% female and children were 49% female. There were 67% overweight/obese parents and 46.4% of the children were at risk/overweight. A positive association but low agreement was found between parent's perception of child's weight status and child's objective weight status (x2=321.9, p<.001; Kappa=.16, p<.001). Parents underestimated at risk for overweight (95%) and overweight children (93%). Parental perceptions of having ‘heavy' children were more likely to be right (OR=38.4, 95%CI: 16.53, 89.0). Parents who were overweight or obese were 67% (95%CI: 1.02, 2.73) and 177% (95%CI: 1.72, 4.46) more likely to have a ‘heavy' child, compared to normal weight adults. Overweight Latino parents are more likely to have overweight children and underestimate their child's weight status when their child is heavy. These results show that parent perceptions of child's weight are not a good measure of child's weight status.