Are Parents of Normal Weight Children More Aware of Their Child's Activity Level Than Parents of Overweight Children?

childhood obesity;physical activity;parental awareness;School of Health Professions and Studies: Nursing

Harman, Aimee S.Robinson, Suzanne T.Flint ;

University of Michigan

关键词: childhood obesity;    physical activity;    parental awareness;    School of Health Professions and Studies: Nursing;   

Others  :  https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/117784/Harman.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

Background: Childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic in North America and around the world (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001). Obesity is second only to smoking for contributing to total morality, and it is estimated that $117 billion will bel spent annualy for health care costs related to this problem (Fitzgibbon & Stolley, 2004). A study in 2001 approximated that 22 million children were overweight worldwide, with numbers in the United States doubling over the past three decades. Research Question: Activity level in the overweight pediatric population has been frequently studied as evidenced by the numerous results the leterature review revealed. A search for articles about parental perception of general health, weight status, dietary intake, screen viewing and inactivity also returned a large number of hits. However, our search did not lead to any reports of parental perception of their overweight child;;s activity level. This made us wonder: are parents aware of how much physical activity their children receive? Is there a difference between the parental awareness of normal weight children versus overweight children? Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted by drawing a convenience sample of 64 children ages six to 12 years and their parents/guardians. The participants are parishioners at a church in Canton, MI. Each dyad was asked questions about activity level and the amount of time spent doing certain activities. The responses were compared between the parent/guardian and their child, as well as between parents/guardians of normal weight and overweight children. Results: No difference was revealed between parent/guardian and child reports on minutes spent playing with physical activity, which is a general measure. Minutes reported watching television, playing computer and video games, and doing homework were significantly different when the parent/guardian;;s answers were compared with the child;;s. Parents/guardians who rated their child as very active were accurate at reporting their child;;s activity level; according to pedometer results, their children are very active. Parents/guardians who rated their children in other categories were not accurate about their child;;s activity level and therefore have a different perception of their child;;s activity level. No statistical relationship was found between the difference in the amount of minutes that the parent/guardian reported and the amount of minutes that the child reported compared with the child;;s BMI. Conclusion: The data collected through this study and the participation of the children and their parents/guardians shows that there is a need for and an intrest in more research to be conducted about childhood obesity and physical activity of children. This growing health problem requires more attention of pediatric health care providers and parents/guardians alike.