Objectives to describe the maternal eating and physical activity strategies (monitoring, discipline, control, limits and reinforcement) [MEES]; to determine the relation between MEES and the child's nutritional status [body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP)]; to verify whether the MEES differ according to the child's nutritional status. Method participants were 558 mothers and children (3 to 11 years of age) who studied at public schools. The Parental Strategies for Eating and Activity Scale (PEAS) was applied and the child's weight, height and BFP were measured. For analysis purposes, descriptive statistics were obtained, using multiple linear regression and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results the highest mean score was found for reinforcement (62.72) and the lowest for control (50.07). Discipline, control and limits explained 12% of the BMI, while discipline and control explained 6% of the BFP. Greater control is found for obese children (χ2=38.36, p=0.001) and greater reinforcement for underweight children (χ2=7.19, p<0.05). Conclusions the mothers exert greater control (pressure to eat) over obese children and greater recognition (congratulating due to healthy eating) in underweight children. Modifications in parental strategies are recommended with a view to strengthening healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar los criterios para síndrome metabólico (SM) de mayor influencia en adolescentes con obesidad. Método: El estudio fue de tipo descriptivo y transversal, la muestra la conformaron 122 adolescentes de nivel preparatoria, seleccionados por un muestreo aleatorio simple. Se realizó somatometría (peso, talla y circunferencia de cintura), así como medición de la presión arterial y toma de muestra sanguínea. Resultados: Predominó la obesidad grado I (68%), el principal criterio para el diagnóstico de síndrome metabólico fue la obesidad abdominal en el 98.4% de los participantes; el 25.4% de estos presentaron tres o más criterios alterados por lo que se consideran con SM, además se encontró asociación entre los niveles de glicemia con la obesidad (p< 0.01). Conclusiones: Los hallazgos de esta investigación mostraron elevada prevalencia de SM en los participantes. La obesidad abdominal es un claro signo de problemas relacionados con el peso y se presenta muy frecuentemente en la población joven con obesidad. La adolescencia es una etapa temprana para educar a las personas y fomentar una vida más sana que permita mantenerlos lejos del desarrollo de enfermedades crónico degenerativas.

r e s U M e n Se identificaron predictores de la percepción materna del peso del hijo (PMPH) con sobrepeso-obesidad (SP-OB). Participaron 2.874 madres e hijos, residentes en el Noreste de México; 951 tenían un hijo con SP-OB. La PMPH se evaluó por palabras (PP) y por imágenes (PI). Por PP, 63.71% y 74.9% de madres de hijos con SP-OB no percibieron adecuadamente el peso del hijo y por PI, 27% y 10.99%. Mediante regresión logística, el modelo para PP fue χ 2 = 152.05, gl = 9, p = 0.001, varianza explicada 21.5% y para PI fue χ 2 = 192.35, gl = 9, p = 0.001, varianza explicada 31.9%. Edad del hijo y si el médico informa de SP en el niño/a, fueron variables que contribuyeron a los modelos. Se concluye que las madres de niños con SP-OB no perciben de forma adecuada esta situación. Se resalta la importancia de informar respecto al SP-OB del hijo. Palabras clave autoresNiño, obesidad, percepción, percepción del peso, reconocimiento, sobrepeso. Palabras clave descriptors a b s T r a c T Several predictors of a mother's perception of her child's weight (MPCW) when the child is overweigh-obese (OW-OB) were identified. Participants: 2,842 mothers and children who reside in Mexico's northeastern region, 951 mothers had an OW-OB child. The MPCW was evaluated for words (PW) and images (PI). PW, 63.71% and 74.9% of the mothers with an OW-OB child, did not perceive the child's weight adequately and PI, 27% and 10.99%. Through Logistic Regression Analysis, a model for PW was χ 2 = 152.05, gl = 9, p = 0.001, 21.5% explained variance; and for PI χ 2 = 192.35, gl = 9, p = 0.001, 31.9% explained variance. The child's age, a doctor's report that the child had OW, were some variables that contributed to the models. We concluded that mothers with OW-OB children * Artículo de investigación. Agradecimientos al Programa de Mejoramiento del Profesorado (PROMEP/103.5/07/2522) por el financiamiento otorgado para la realización del presente proyecto. Los autores están de acuerdo en el orden de autoría y manifiestan que contribuyeron sustancialmente en la elaboración del manuscrito.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a public health issue negatively affecting children’s physical and psychosocial health. Mothers are children’s primary caregivers, thus key players in childhood obesity prevention. Studies have indicated that mothers underestimate their children’s weight. If mothers are unaware of their children’s weight problem, they are less likely to participate in activities preventing and treating excess weight. The “Healthy Change” intervention is designed to change maternal perception of child’s weight (MPCW) through peer-led group health education in childcare settings.Methods/DesignThe “Healthy Change” is a multicenter two-arm randomized trial in four centers. Three centers are in Mexican States (Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas). The fourth center is in San Antonio, Texas, USA. A total of 360 mother-child pairs (90 pairs per center) are to be randomly and evenly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. Intervention group will receive four-session group obesity prevention education. Control group will receive a four-session personal and food hygiene education. The education is delivered by trained peer-mother promotoras. Data will be collected using questionnaires and focus groups. The primary outcome is a change in proportion of mothers with accurate MPCW. Secondary outcomes include change in maternal feeding styles and practices, maternal self-efficacy and actions for managing child excessive weight gain.McNemar’s Test will be used to test the primary outcome. The GLM Univariate procedure will be used to determine intervention effects on secondary outcomes. The models will include the secondary outcome measures as the dependent variables, treatment condition (intervention/control) as the fixed factor, and confounding factors (e.g., mother’s education, children’s gender and age) as covariates. Sub-analyses will be performed to compare intervention effects on primary and secondary outcomes between the samples from Mexico and Texas, USA. Qualitative data will be analyzed through analysis of inductive content. A combined coding model will be developed and used to code transcripts using the NVivo software.DiscussionHealthy Change intervention could help change MPCW, an initial step for obesity prevention among preschoolers. This study presents a first of its kind intervention available in Spanish and English targeting Mexican and Mexican-American mothers in Mexico and USA.Trial registration ISRCTN12281648

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