Parents 'unaware' young children are overweight

Parents of overweight and obese preschoolers are often not concerned or even aware that their child is overweight, a survey shows.  

The rate of overweight or obese in the children tested was 19 per cent, however only 5 per cent of parents were concerned that their child was currently overweight.  

The research, by Dr Michele Campbell and team from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute at the Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia, was revealed in Wellington today.  

Dr Campbell said: "Despite the increased media attention and publicity about obesity in children, many parents still thought their overweight/obese child had a normal weight for their age, whilst others with children in the normal weight range felt they were underweight.  

"This may reflect just how common being overweight has become. However, there are also more complex reasons why parents may not perceive their child as overweight that need to be addressed."  

Her research was presented at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' annual scientific meeting.  

Dr Campbell added: "We also found that parents with overweight sons were much less likely to be concerned about their child's weight than parents with overweight daughters. This suggests that social values about the acceptability of overweight by gender are already apparent at a very early age."  

The number of overweight and obese preschoolers is increasing, the conference heard. These children are more likely to be overweight as adults and risk facing a wide range of health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.  

"Increasing parent awareness about preschooler overweight and addressing their concerns should be part of a broad-based approach to encourage healthy and active lifestyles for all children," Dr Campbell said. 

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF