Overweight Risk and Parental Concerns of Risk for Chinese Preschoolers in the U.S., China and Taiwan

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated childhood obesity as a global epidemic. Parental factors such as perceptions of their child’s weight status, concerns about their child’s weight, parental feeding practices, and parents’ own weight status may be associated with increased obesity risk among preschool children. This study aims to explore factors related to body mass index (BMI) and parental concerns about their children’s weight among Chinese pre-school aged children in the U.S., China and Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was utilized. One hundred children (ages 3-5) and their parents participated in the study. Parents completed a family eating and activity habit questionnaire, a child feeding practices survey, a child bdy shape pictorial list, and a demographic survey. Children had their weight and height measured. Results: Fathers’ elevated BMI was related to higher children’s BMI (R2 = .095, p = 005), especially among boys. Parent-reported food restriction practices, perception of their child being heavy, increased food monitoring, and higher children’s activity level were associated with increased concerns for a child’s weight (R2 = .43, p = 001). Conclusion: In contrast to literature that focuses on mothers, our study suggests that obesity prevention for Chinese fathers may assist in the obesity prevention efforts of their young children, especially among boys. In addition, parent education on healthy feeding practices for preschool children is warranted for preventing childhood obesity.