University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Obes Facts. 2010;3(2):83-91. doi: 10.1159/000295495. Epub 2010 Apr 6.
The objective of this study was to investigate differences in weight perception and self-concept of obese and lean children, and to examine parents' awareness of overweight in themselves and their children. A total of 59 obese patients aged 7-17 years and 49 of their parents from a pediatric obesity out-patient clinic participated and were compared with 96 normal-weight patients and 81 of their parents from a pediatric pulmonary disease out-patient clinic.
Children's and parents' self-perception of weight, desire for weight change and weight concerns, children's belief that their desired weight can be achieved, and parents' perception of their child's weight status were assessed using single questionnaire items. Children's self-concept was measured by the Self-Perception Profile for Children. In addition, children drew pictures about themselves and their favorite activity.
Obese patients wished to change their weight more frequently (p < 0.001) and had more weight concerns (p < 0.001). Their self-concept was significantly more negative. Physical activities were more common in their drawings than in those of normal-weight peers. Parents of obese children were more frequently overweight or obese themselves (p < 0.001). 35 of them and 73 parents of normal-weight children perceived their own weight realistically. Of the parents with overweight or obese children, 69.4% perceived their own child as overweight and 28.6% as very overweight, whereas 83% of them were obese.
Children and adolescents as well as their parents recognize overweight as a health problem. In the majority, weight perception matches real body weight. Most parents at least recognize overweight in their children.
本研究旨在探讨肥胖和正常体重儿童的体重感知和自我概念差异,并研究父母对自身和子女超重的认识。共有 59 名 7-17 岁的肥胖患儿及其家长(来自儿科肥胖门诊)与 96 名正常体重患儿及其家长(来自儿科肺部疾病门诊)参加了本研究。
使用单项问卷条目评估儿童及其家长对体重的自我感知、对体重变化的渴望和担忧、对体重的担忧、儿童对其期望体重能否实现的信念,以及父母对子女体重状况的感知。儿童的自我概念通过儿童自我知觉量表进行测量。此外,儿童还画了自己和自己最喜欢的活动的画。
肥胖患儿更频繁地希望改变体重(p<0.001),更关注体重(p<0.001)。他们的自我概念明显更消极。与正常体重的同龄人相比,他们的画中更多地描绘了身体活动。肥胖患儿的父母自己更常超重或肥胖(p<0.001)。其中 35 名父母和 73 名正常体重儿童的父母能现实地认识到自己的体重。在超重或肥胖儿童的父母中,69.4%认为自己的孩子超重,28.6%认为孩子非常超重,而其中 83%的父母自己超重。
儿童和青少年及其父母均将超重视为健康问题。在大多数情况下,体重感知与实际体重相符。大多数父母至少能认识到自己孩子超重。