Finding Help for Your Overweight Child: A resource for parents to help overweight children

AbstractObjective:Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are increasingly experiencing the double burden of malnutrition. Studies to identify ‘double-duty’ actions that address both undernutrition and overweight in sub-Saharan Africa are needed. We aimed to identify acceptable behaviours to achieve more optimal feeding and physical activity practices among both under- and overweight children in Rwanda, a sub-Saharan LMIC with one of the largest recent increases in child overweight.Design:We used the Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs) method. During three household visits over 1·5 weeks, we used structured interviews and unstructured observations to collect data on infant and young child feeding practices and caregivers’ experiences with testing recommended practices.Setting:An urban district and a rural district in Rwanda.Participants:Caregivers with an under- or overweight child from 6 to 59 months of age (n 136).Results:We identified twenty-five specific recommended practices that caregivers of both under- and overweight children agreed to try. The most frequently recommended practices were related to dietary diversity, food quantity, and hygiene and food handling. The most commonly cited reason for trying a new practice was its benefits to the child’s health and growth. Financial constraints and limited food availability were common barriers. Nearly all caregivers said they were willing to continue the practices and recommend them to others.Conclusions:These practices show potential for addressing the double burden as part of a broader intervention. Still, further research is needed to determine whether caregivers can maintain the behaviours and their direct impact on both under- and overweight.

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Tackling Childhood Overweight: Parental Perceptions of Stakeholders’ Roles in a Community-Based Intervention

Global Pediatric Health ◽

10.1177/2333794x19833733 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 2333794X1983373

Author(s):

Sébastien Blanchette ◽

Jean Lemoyne ◽

Francois Trudeau

Keyword(s):

Health Professionals ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Childhood Overweight ◽

Physical Education Teachers ◽

Overweight Child ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Community Based ◽

Healthy Behaviors ◽

Canadian Youth ◽

Semistructured Interviews

Introduction. Collaborative efforts among communities, schools, parents, and health professionals are needed to prevent childhood obesity, which touches one third of Canadian youth. The purpose of this case study was to obtain parents’ experience and perceptions about stakeholder roles in a multidisciplinary community-based intervention aiming to tackle childhood overweight. Methods. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 parents following their participation in a community-based program designed to help families with overweight children adopt a healthier lifestyle. Results and Discussion. All parents preferred a multidisciplinary health team to monitor their children’s health. They expect that a physician or a pediatrician could diagnose overweight, explain results to parents, and refer families to resources. The team could also include professionals from health and education such as nutritionists/dietitians, nurses, physical education teachers, psychologists, kinesiologists, and social workers. Parents’ own perceived role would consist of instructing and reinforcing their children about healthy behaviors, role modeling for a healthy lifestyle, and seeking for professional help when needed. Conclusion. Parents involved in a support group with overweight child consider their own role as crucial to help changing their family lifestyle. They also prefer a multidisciplinary team that can address different aspects of overweight/obesity. However, the physician was perceived as having the central role in mobilizing a group of stakeholders around youth with overweight/obese, including the parents. A further step would be to understand barriers and facilitators to collaboration among health professionals in childhood overweight prevention and treatment.

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Maternal Perceptions of Weight Status of Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.111.s1.1226 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 111 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1226-1231 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

L. Michele Maynard ◽

Deborah A. Galuska ◽

Heidi M. Blanck ◽

Mary K. Serdula

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Weight Status ◽

Overweight Child ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Older Children ◽

Maternal Perceptions ◽

Child Weight ◽

Measured Weight ◽

Z Scores ◽

The Right

Objective. We quantified maternal misclassification of child weight status and examined determinants associated with maternal perceptions of child weight status. Methods. Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994) were used. The sample included 5500 children (aged 2–11 years) with maternal interview data. Maternal perceptions of children’s weight status were compared with measured weights and statures from which body mass index (BMI; weight/stature2; kg/m2) percentiles and z scores were determined. Frequency analyses determined the percentages of mothers considering their child to be “overweight,” “underweight,” or “about the right weight.” Multivariable logistic regression analyses determined predictors of maternal misclassification of overweight children (≥95th BMI-for-age percentile) and those at risk for overweight (≥85th to <95th BMI-for-age percentile). Results. Nearly one third (32.1%) of mothers reported their overweight child as “about the right weight.” Younger children and those with lower BMI-for-age z scores had significantly greater odds of maternal underclassification of child overweight status. For children at risk for overweight, 14.0% of mothers reported sons to be “overweight,” whereas 29.0% considered daughters to be “overweight.” Odds of maternal misclassification of at-risk children as “overweight” were significantly greater for daughters, older children, children with higher BMI-for-age z scores, and children whose mothers had a lower BMI. Race/ethnicity was not a significant predictor in either model. Conclusions. Nearly one third of mothers misclassify overweight children as being lower than their measured weight status. Mothers are more likely to identify daughters who are at risk of overweight as being “overweight” than they are sons.

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Comparison of metabolic syndrome criteria in obese and overweight children

Paediatrica Indonesiana ◽

10.14238/pi50.5.2010.295-9 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 295 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Astrid Anastasia Malonda ◽

Helena Anneke Tangkilisan

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Overweight Child ◽

Test Results ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Obese Children ◽

Cross Sectional

Background Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of disorders which occur in relation to increasing body weight. Only a few studies have reported the differences in the fulfillment of MS criteria between obese and overweight children, and none were from Indonesia.Objective To detennine the differences in metabolic syndrome disorders between obese and overweight children.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Manado from May to August 2010. The diagnosis of MS is established by fulfilling three of five criteria: waist circumference ≥90th percentile, blood pressure ≥ 90th percentile, fasting blood sugar (FBS) ≥ 100 mg/dL, triglycerides ≥110 mg/dL and high density lipoprotein (HDL) ≤40 mg/dL. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) of> 3 SD and overweight as BMI of 2-3 SD. Results Results ere analyzed by x2 and t-test. Results Thirty obese and 30 overweight children aged 10-14years were examined for the disorders of MS. Twenty􀁄three obese and 4 overweight children had waist circumferences ≥90th percentile. Seventeen obese and 3 overweight children had blood pressure ≥90th percentile. No significant differences in FBS, HDL, and triglycerides were observed between the two groups. Thirteen obese children met the MS inclusion criteria, while only 1 overweight child did so (P<0.001).Conclusions High blood pressure (≥90th percentile) and waist circumference (≥90th percentile) occurred were observed at higher frequency in obese children than in overweight children. The occurrence of MS in obese children was significantly higher than in overweight children.

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