Maternal Concern about Child Weight in a Study of Weight‐Discordant Siblings. Issue 2 (10th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kral, Tanja V. E.; Moore, Reneé H.; Compher, Charlene W.
• Is Part Of: Public health nursing. Volume 32:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2014-03-10
• Subjects: maternal concern about child weight -- obesity -- weight‐discordant siblings; Public health nursing -- Periodicals; 610.734
• DOI: 10.1111/phn.12119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-1209

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: This study examined concern about child weight in mothers of weight‐discordant siblings and determined the accuracy of maternal self‐report versus measured child height, weight, and corresponding body mass index (BMI; kg/m 2 ) z‐score. Design and Sample: Discordant sibling design. Forty‐seven mothers of 5‐ to 12‐year‐old, weight‐discordant siblings. Measures: Mothers self‐reported their concern about child weight for each child separately and for a subset of children, self‐reported their heights and weights. Siblings' height, weight, waist circumference, and adiposity were measured. Results: The majority (83%) of mothers expressed concern about their overweight/obese child's weight and 20% of mothers expressed concern about their normal‐weight child's weight ( p < .001). Difference scores in maternal concern about child weight were positively associated with difference scores in sibling BMI z‐score ( r = 0.42; p = .01) and percent body fat ( r = 0.56; p < .001). For overweight/obese children only, maternal‐reported child heights and weights were significantly lower compared to the measured values ( p < .03). Conclusions: One fifth of mothers of weight‐discordant siblings were unconcerned about their overweight/obese child's weight and for overweight/obese children only, mothers tended to underreport children's height and weight. Mothers' concern for their overweight/obese child's weight was greater for sibling pairs who were more discordant in their weight.