The Impact of Parents’ Categorization of Their Own Weight and Their Child’s Weight on Healthy Lifestyle Promoting Beliefs and Practices
Table 2
Proportion of parents agreeing with statements related to childhood obesity, diet, and physical activity stratified by child and parent weight status (as perceived by parents).
Survey item
All parents
Parents of overweight1 child
Child normal weight1
Child overweight1
Normal weight1 parent
Overweight1 parent
Childhood obesity-general
Being overweight or obese as a child can cause serious illnesses
94.7%
95.4%
92.8%
96.9%
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in Georgia
42.3%
53.5%***
49.6%
55.6%
Little can be done for overweight children because weight problems run in families
8.4%
12.1%*
11.2%
12.6%
Parents as role models
It is important for me to eat well and be active because I am a role model for my child
94.3%
93.4%
94.4%
92.8%
Parents do not need to do anything about child overweight as they will grow out of it
4.9%
7.2%
8.0%
6.7%
Child’s weight
I am concerned with my child’s weight
14.4%
73.0%***
69.6%
74.9%
I am ready to address my child’s weight
26.4%
58.6%***
58.4%
58.7%
As long as my child is happy, his/her weight does not matter
7.5%
10.3%
11.2%
9.9%
Child’s diet
I try to teach my child about healthy eating choices
90.1%
91.1%
93.6%
89.6%
I am concerned with what my child eats
55.8%
85.3%***
84.0%
86.1%
I am trying to change my family’s eating habits for the better
70.5%
78.5%**
76.8%
70.4%
My friends and family think it’s important that children eat a healthy diet
87.3%
82.1%*
81.6%
82.4%
I can provide healthy meals for my child even when busy
79.6%
72.4%**
81.6%
67.3%**
It takes more time and effort to eat healthy
50.0%
53.5%
43.2%
59.2%**
It costs too much to eat healthy
34.2%
39.9%*
34.4%
43.1%
Child’s physical activity
I am concerned with how much activity or exercise my child gets
55.2%
83.1%***
82.4%
83.4%
I am ready to make nutrition and activity change today
26.4%
58.6%***
58.4%
58.7%
Technology causes my child to spend less time in physical activity than I would prefer
35.8%
54.3%***
54.4%
54.3%
; ; . Two-sided level of significance in relation to their normal weight comparator was assessed using Chi-square tests of independence or Fisher’s exact tests.
1Weight status of parents and children is that as perceived by the parents.
