Maternal Perception and Feeding Practices: Effect on Preschooler's Weight

Present research was done to assess the effect of maternal perception & child feeding practices on weight status of preschoolers.102 mothers were questioned about family background, nutrition awareness, perception of their child's weight, feeding practices on weight status of children & factors affecting these were assessed through statistical analysis. In comparison with WHO growth standards, 30% children were obese, but 69% mothers wrongly perceived their child's weight. Mothers of overweight sons had more wrong perception than those with overweight daughters. Perception that children were underweight was associated with maternal BMI. Child's weight was found unrelated to feeding practices followed by mothers. But, there were associations between different subscales of feeding practices & family characteristics. Despite mounting public health concern about childhood obesity in India, most of surveyed mothers were not concerned about their children's weight, and many did not perceive their overweight children any different from their peers. This may have implications for interventions that rely on acknowledging child's overweight as a first step to change.