Accuracy of Adults' Perception of Childhood Obesity in a Military Environment. Issue 4 (24th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: West, Gordon F.; Hayden, Megan R.; Benjamin, Carla R.
• Is Part Of: Public health nursing. Volume 30:Issue 4(2013:Jul./Aug.)
• Page Start: 343
• Page End: 350
• Publication Date: 2012-10-24
• Subjects: Public health nursing -- Periodicals; 610.734
• DOI: 10.1111/phn.12001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-1209

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="phn12001-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="phn12001-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>The aim of this study was to determine how accurately adults in a military environment identified images of children within four different categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.</p> </sec> <sec id="phn12001-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Sample</title> <p>For this descriptive correlational research study, the sample was composed of 1, 016 adults.</p> </sec> <sec id="phn12001-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Measures</title> <p>Chi‐square analysis of participant's demographic characteristics and accuracy of identification of six different images of children was conducted.</p> </sec> <sec id="phn12001-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Statistical significance was demonstrated with participant's self‐image and accuracy of identification in four of the six images.</p> </sec> <sec id="phn12001-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>This research supports the conclusion that individuals who classify themselves as overweight or obese are very accurate in correctly classifying images of children in these categories. While this is true our findings demonstrate that a large number of participants do not correctly self‐identify themselves. This suggests that educational campaigns need to include educational components to increase awareness of what children are considered overweight or obese. Without this, the potential exists for the message to be missed as the parent could potentially perceive the overweight or obese child as normal.</p> </sec> </abstract>