Maternal perception of the child’s weight, lifestyle problems and self-efficacy to deal with them

Abstract

Objectives: To associate the maternal perception of the child’s weight (MPCW) and the child’s nutritional status. To describe child’s lifestyle behavior problems (CLBPs) and maternal self-efficacy (SE) to deal with them, as well as to verify differences according to children with and without overweight-obesity (OW-OB) and MPCW. Material and methods: There was participation of 274 dyads (motherpreschool child). MPCW was assessed through words and images. The mothers answered the Lifestyle Behaviour Checklist. The child’s weight and height were measured. Results: 18.8 % (n = 13) of the mothers of children with OW-OB and 78.8 % (n = 160) of the mothers of children without OW-OB obtained adequate MPCW values through words (X2 = 77.759; DoF = 1; p < .001). It was identified that the mothers of children with OW-OB reported more CLBPs and less SE. When the child’s OW-OB is perceived through words, there are more CLBPs (F = 17.041; p = .001) and less SE (U = 1,118; p = .015). Conclusions: Inadequate MPCW was predominant in mothers of children with OW-OB. When OW-OB is perceived, there are more CLBPs and fewer SE. It is recommended to promote adequate MPCW, particularly in mothers of children with OW-OB. Images assist in the identification of the child’s OW-OB more than to classify it into a category.