Weight status of 3 to 5-year-olds and the relationship to maternal perception, concern, and efficacy to change child weight status

The purpose of this study was to determine how a mother's perception, concern, and feeling of efficacy to change her child's weight is related to her child's BMI at 3 to 5-years-old to define barriers and educational needs for preventing childhood obesity. Subjects were 50 African American and 56 Hispanic mothers and one of their children (3 to 5-years-old) who were participants in the WIC Program. Mothers responded to a questionnaire followed by measures of weight and height for mother and child to calculate BMI. Results from a sign test indicated 44% of African American and 46.4% of Hispanic mothers perceived their children to be less than actual weight status (p < .0005). A t-test found a significant difference in the level of concern between African American mothers who correctly perceive their overweight children and those who incorrectly perceive their children. No difference was seen in Hispanic mothers.