Nutrition Graduate Program, Medical and Psychology School, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana, B.C., México.
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2010 Oct;41(5):490-500. doi: 10.1007/s10578-010-0183-4.
Childhood obesity is being considered a global health epidemic, and one of the countries mostly affected by it is Mexico. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of low-income mothers with regard to their child's weight status and physical activity and their beliefs about healthy and high-density foods. A total of 813 mothers attending a vaccination centre at three primary care clinics in three different regions of Mexico, and their infants ranging from 5 to 24 months old, participated in the study. Anthropometrical measurements and interviews were conducted at the clinic. The child's average age was 12.7 months. Forty-three percent of mothers underestimate their child's weight status; this percentage jumps to 83% when we refer to mothers of overweight and obese children. Mothers with overweight and obese children, having a monthly income higher than 600 dollars, less than 6 years of education, and having migrated to their current state of residence are more likely to underestimate their child's weight. A high percentage of the mothers wish their children were less active, and they do not consider that carbonated and non-carbonated sweetened drinks and high fat snacks might be dangerous to their child's health. In conclusion, low-income, Mexican mothers highly underestimate their infant's weight status and have higher risks of fostering an obesogenic environment.
儿童肥胖症被认为是一种全球健康流行病，而受其影响最大的国家之一是墨西哥。本研究旨在评估低收入母亲对其子女体重状况和身体活动的看法，以及她们对健康和高膳食纤维食物的看法。共有 813 名母亲参加了在墨西哥三个不同地区的三个初级保健诊所的疫苗接种中心，其婴儿年龄在 5 至 24 个月之间。在诊所进行了人体测量和访谈。儿童的平均年龄为 12.7 个月。43%的母亲低估了自己孩子的体重状况；当我们提到超重和肥胖儿童的母亲时，这一比例上升到 83%。超重和肥胖儿童的母亲、月收入超过 600 美元、受教育程度低于 6 年、以及从其他州迁移到目前居住地的母亲更有可能低估自己孩子的体重。很大一部分母亲希望自己的孩子活动量少一些，而且她们不认为碳酸和非碳酸甜味饮料以及高脂肪零食可能对孩子的健康有害。总之，墨西哥低收入母亲严重低估了婴儿的体重状况，并且更有可能助长肥胖的环境。
