Parental Perceptions and Concerns Related to the Consequences of Pediatric Obesity: Feeling or Real Problem?

Abstract

Lifestyle modifications (i.e., nutrition and physical activity) remain the main tools in the context of childhood obesity’s treatment and prevention of short and long-term consequences. At the same time, parental perception of child weight represents an even more important tool. It is known that more than half of parents of overweight/obese children underestimate their child’s weight status or are not worried about the risks associated with childhood overweight/obesity. Consequently, parental perception of childhood obesity can be often erroneous, and, even when accurate, subsequent parental behaviors can inadvertently contribute to the onset or persistence of childhood and adult obesity. Starting from the evidence that targeting a parent to induce a behavioral change is more effective than targeting the child only without parental participation, parental perceptions of childhood obesity can therefore represent a very important tool to take into consideration to achieve improvements in the context of childhood obesity. Therefore, knowledge of parental perception of children's weight status is needed to help pediatricians to organize and adapt activities and programs that promote healthy weight management among children. Specifically, early assessments of parents' perceptions of a child's weight, followed by regular follow up visits, appropriate

Exploring the Complex Interplay of Obesity, Allergic Diseases, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing In Children

“…Excess fatty tissue can lead to serious health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Regular check-ups are crucial for overweight and obese children [13,14].…”

The Future for the Children of Tomorrow: Avoiding Salt in the First 1000 Days

“…The key concern regarding salt consumption during the first 1000 days is preventing and mitigating adverse outcomes, particularly hypertension and obesity in short-and long-term life [15]. The main blood pressure (BP) determinants are total peripheral vascular resistance and cardiac output.…”

“…Finally, a reduction in salt consumption determines a reduction in sweet food consumption, with positive effects on blood pressure and body weight [17]. Pediatricians could know the salt content in the main average foods used in the first 1000 days (Table 1) and play a pivotal role in ensuring proper nutrition throughout a child's life from prenatal care, including maternal nutrition during pregnancy, to postnatal care, encompassing growth monitoring and education for children and parents [15]. Our comprehensive review aimed to analyze the beneficial effects of avoiding salt intake during the first 1000 days of a child's life, carefully considering the possible detrimental repercussions that excessive salt consumption might have on developing lifelong disorders.…”

Association between Urinary Sodium Excretion and Body Fat in School-Aged Children: Insights from the ARIA Study

“…This trend is particularly concerning given the well-established association between high sodium intake and elevated blood pressure, a significant precursor to the development of cardiovascular diseases [ 4 , 5 ]. Furthermore, there has been a notable escalation in childhood obesity rates [ 6 , 7 ], concomitant with heightened sodium intake within this age group [ 8 ]. Based on the COSI Portugal 2022 study, despite a reversed trend in the prevalence of childhood overweightedness and obesity in Portugal from 2008 to 2019, the same was not observed in 2022.…”

“…In fact, between 2019 and 2022, there was an increase of 2.2 and 1.6 percentage points in the prevalence of childhood overweightedness and obesity, respectively [ 9 ]. These trends represent significant epidemiological concerns warranting thorough investigation and targeted intervention strategies [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”