O-56 Adult Perception of Child Weight in the ECHORN Cohort Study is Associated with Parental Self-Perception of Weight and not Socioeconomic Status
Author(s):
S Hassan, D Galusha, C Magny-Normilus, C Oladele, OP Adams, R Maharaj, CM Nazario, M Nunez, and M-Nunez-Smith
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To understand the medical, environmental,
behavioral, and social determinants of health associated
with parental perception of a child’s weight.
Methods: Data from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study were analysed (n=2923). Participants with children reported on whether they perceived their child to be overweight. Bivariate analyses conducted to see the association of several demographic (age, sex, socioeconomic status) and clinical factors (medical history, self-perception of weight) with perception of child weight were analysed using chi-square. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate association of parental-level factors with perceived child weight.
Results: Only 13% of respondents (n=560) perceived their child was overweight. Parental medical history of cardiovascular-related risk factors were different in the group that perceived having a child who was overweight (versus normal weight): elevated body mass index (BMI) >25kg/ m2 (88% vs. 74.4%, p=0.0102), history of hypertension (52 versus 36.4%, p=0.0096), history of diabetes (21% vs 16%, p=0.0078), mis-perception of their own parental weight (10.7% vs 25.4%, p=0.0051). Parental overweight or obesity conferred a 2.14 greater odds of reporting their child overweight (p=0.0602), and parental history of diabetes confers a 1.88 great odds of reporting your child to be overweight (p=0.0432).
Conclusion: Parental sociodemographic factors are not associated with perception of having a child who is overweight. Presence of lifestyle diseases, such as from obesity and diabetes, conferred greater odds of perceiving a child to be overweight.