DETROIT, Dec. 24, 2007
Study: Many Parents Blind To Kids' Obesity
Researchers Worry That Makes Associated Medical Woes More Likely
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(CBS/AP)
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A survey found that many Americans whose children are obese do not see them that way.
That is worrisome, researchers say, because obese children run the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and other ailments more commonly found in adults. And overweight children are likely to grow up to be overweight adults.
"It suggests to me that parents of younger kids believe that their children will grow out of their obesity, or something will change at older ages," said Dr. Matthew M. Davis, a University of Michigan professor of pediatrics and internal medicine who led the study, released earlier this month.
"When I see a child that is obese at these younger ages, I take that as a sign of ways nutrition can be improved, a child's activity level can be improved."
Among parents with an obese, or extremely overweight, child ages 6 to 11, 43 percent said their child was "about the right weight," 37 percent responded "slightly overweight," and 13 percent said "very overweight." Others said "slightly underweight."
For those with an obese child ages 12 to 17, the survey found more awareness that weight was a problem. Fifty-six percent said their child was "slightly overweight," 31 percent responded "very overweight," 11 percent said "about the right weight" and others said "slightly underweight."
Dr. Goutham Rao, clinical director of the Weight Management and Wellness Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said obesity in children isn't as easy to identify as in adults. "Plus, because of the social stigma, it's not something that parents are willing to admit to readily," Rao said.
The survey of 2,060 adults, conducted over the summer by Internet research firm Knowledge Networks, collected height and weight measurements on the children from their parents, then used that to calculate body mass index.
When a child's BMI was higher than the 95th percentile for children who are the same age and gender, the child was considered obese.
Based on what the parents reported, 15 percent of the children ages 6 to 11, and 10 percent of the children ages 12 to 17, were obese.
The Michigan researchers said that, too, suggests parents underestimate their children's weight. National estimates indicate about 17 percent of U.S. children are obese under the standard used by the researchers.
Dr. Reginald Washington, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and part of the AAP's committee on childhood obesity, noted that in about half of cases where a child is obese, one or both parents are overweight, too - and parents can take a pediatrician's concerns as a personal affront.
Experts said doctors need to help parents better understand the health risks of childhood obesity.
"Obesity isn't just something that affects the clothes that you buy or how you are perceived by your friends and your schoolmates," Davis said. "It is something that can have health effects, not only in adulthood but in childhood."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The secrets of tennis legend 
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See all 40 CommentsJust think of today''s youngsters, some 30 years from now. Especially the roly poly porker I''d mentioned earlier. I don''t say this to be snide or malicious. I say it as a concern. 30 years seems like a long distance. Not from where I''m standing. And not from where she was standing either. Age 7 with that much of a belly; her parent(s) should be truly ashamed.
I grew up in a sedentary lifestyle and I typically eat very healthy foods. I am overweight and, at age 35, am on the cusp of developing SERIOUS if not terminal problems... I am writing a book on the subject, but I am a real example that exercise is utterly important. (And it''s hard to get in shape when you''re out of it... I look at these 7 year olds whose guts are as large, if not larger, than mine and hold back tears... seriously.)
I have a number of acquaintanances whose wives have become fat. I also have a number of acquaintencances whose wives are not.
I have never once heard any of the men whose wives keep their weight in check say "gee, I wish my wife would pack on 150 pounds or so".
But I''ve heard all of the guys with fat wives say several times "gee, I wish my wife would take off about 150 pounds or so".
Posted by debster011 at 04:59 PM : Dec 26, 2007
I can''t fathom why you''d take comments about the obese personally if, as you say, you are not obese.
In regards to worthlessness, you see that I took exception with realpatriot a few posts back for using that term and he apologized for having done so.
Now, whether 50, 100, or 200 pounds of lard on someone is disgusting or not, I guess that''s in the eye of the beholder, isn''t it?
Do you find morbidly obese men to be attractive or repulsive?
I can tell you that when it comes to desireability in a woman, I personally do not find a five-year supply of stored calories to be appealing by any stretch of the imagination.
Posted by debster011 at 03:59 PM : Dec 26, 2007
My, my, my. Isn''t that a defensive post?
Because people see obesity for what it is doesn''t mean they think they are perfect. It means they are not in denial about obesity like the parents mentioned in the study.
the parents can''t see beyond the burger in front of them.
You are right on. LIfe is good when you are fit. Keep up the good work. You sound like one of those individuals who sales by me on the jogging path. Eight miles per day is an impressive schedule and you are to be commended. If some of the overweight population would just walk a mile a day, they would experience great changes. You are right though, they just really don''t care. It''s boring to hear them always complain about being too hot, too tired to walk anywhere, out of breath or hungry. In fact, they are never just hungry, they always use the term, "I''m starving"!
Have a great day and a Happy New Year.
As mentioned before...not my kid, not my problem. We can not change the rate of increasing obesity in this country. The information is available, there''s tons of it. It''s on the food people buy so there''s no excuse. People just don''t seem to want to do anything about it, and I highly doubt it''s because they can''t (perhaps a small percentage of individuals have some medical reason).
I just sit back and watch this phenomenon while I run 8 miles every day and eat vegetables, understanding the concept of calories in/calorie out. My BMI is 17.
I just jumped to an incorrect conclusion from your post. Sorry. Happy to see you are a lean, mean posting machine. I happen to live a life surrounded by obese family members and their friends, and my personal disgust is fueled by years of exposure to their behaviour. Most are alcoholics in various degrees, about 60% smoke, and none have permanent employment. All have recurring, degenerative health problems and anti-social attitudes. It''s not a situation I can completely avoid, even though I try. It is a pitiful lot, and they stuff their faces with fast food every time they feel any urge at all to eat.
Have a great day.
interesting information. as a classroom teacher i see lots of extremely overweight children. one of the things that i have noticed, and i don''t know if your data supports this, is the correlation between affluence and obesity. contrary to what has been true throughout history, today the less wealth the family has, the more likely it seems that the children will be overweight.
You are correct. I take back the "worthless" comment. I was ranting a bit regarding some rather specific obese individuals in my life which happen to fit this designation. Many obese individuals are actually productive, hardworking and very worthy people, just consumed by consumption.
Thank you for bringing me back on track. Can''t let emotion take control like that when one is on the board. I''ll think a little more before I post. Have a nice day and Happy New Year to you.
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