Maternal Perception of Body Mass Index and Dietary Habits Leading to Obesity Among Saudi School Aged Children a Comparative Study

مقال فى مجلة

2018

Yakout, Maha Mohammad Al Balawi, Manal Fehade Al-Harbi, Sahar . 2018

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most severe public health problems of the 21st century. Obesity is global, and it affects many low- and middle-income countries, especially in urban settings; its prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. The study was carried out in Prince Sultan Military Medical City and King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh, as well as the North West Armed Forces Hospital in Tabuk. Method: A quantitative correlative cross-sectional design was used. A non-probability sampling of mothers of school-age children (n=300) was recruited. The questionnaire developed with two parts: tool I was a structured questionnaire, while tool II was the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). Result: The mean age of the mothers in Riyadh was 38.81±6.06 years old, while in Tabuk it was 40.3±5.8 years old. Regarding maternal perception about their children, BMI (80.7%, 82%) did not know the importance and detention of BMI and 80.7% not assessed before their BMI. There was a significant correlation between mothers' BMIs and their children's BMI. In comparison between maternal perception and actual BMI in Tabuk, 16.6% of mothers perceived their children to be underweight, but 4.8% of were underweight. Conclusion: It was concluded that over half of mother had fair to poor scores concerning knowledge about children's eating habits. Moreover, one-third of maternal perception and practices about the CFQ ranged from fair to poor. Thus, the researcher recommended applied nutritional counselling, and education should be provided; furthermore, children
should be involved in group and diet workshops

 

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