Chaparro MP, et al. Predictors of accurate maternal perception of their preschool child’s weight status among Hispanic WIC participants. Obesity. Oct 2011;19(10):2026-2030.
The goal of this study was to assess the accuracy of maternal perceptions of their children’s weight status. Almost all mothers in the study classified their overweight or obese child as being about the right weight. As a result, they might not see obesity interventions as relevant to their families. Researchers concluded that parents need education in two areas: (1) how to identify whether their children are overweight or obese and (2) the consequences of obesity.