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Parental perceptions of actual and ideal body weight in early childhood prospectively predict adolescent perceptions of actual and ideal body weight among a low-income population

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Abstract

Purpose

To examine the longitudinal associations between parental perceptions of their child’s actual weight (PPCA = parental perception of child’s actual) and ideal weight (PPCI = parental perception of child ideal) in early childhood and the child’s own perceptions of their actual weight (APA = adolescent perceived actual) and ideal weight (API = adolescent perceived ideal) during early adolescence among a low-income population.

Methods

Using a longitudinal study design, 136 child/parent pairs were asked to assess the child’s actual and ideal weight using figure rating scales. When children were 4–7 years old, parents reported on their perception of their child’s weight; when children were 10–12 years old, the child reported on their own weight perceptions. Actual weight, ideal weight, and the difference between ideal and actual weight perception were assessed at the respective timepoints. Regressions were used to examine the relationship between parental weight perceptions (PPCA and PPCI) and later adolescent weight perception (APA and API).

Results

On average, PPCI was higher than PPCA, whereas API was lower than APA. We found a positive relationship between PPCI and API (β = 0.309, p = .029). PPCA was positively associated with API (β = 0.304, p = .015) and marginally positively associated with the APA (β = 0.242, p = .077). However, the difference between PPCI and PPCA did not predict either APA or API.

Conclusions

Parental perception of their child’s weight may relate to the adolescent’s weight perception, particularly ideal weight. However, several null and marginal associations suggest that parental weight perception in early childhood may not be the most salient factor in determining weight perception in early adolescence.

Level of evidence

Level III, well-designed longitudinal cohort study.

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Availability of data and materials

Data from the Appetite Behavior and Cortisol Study are not publicly available.

Code availability

Code for this study is not publicly available.

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Funding

The data collected and used for the present study was supported by Grant # R01DK098983 (MPI’s: Julie Lumeng/Alison Miller) and R01HD061356 (PI: Julie Lumeng) from the National Institutes of Health and Grant # SDG25700093 (PI: Kendrin Sonneville) from the American Heart Association. Additionally, the corresponding author’s time was partially supported by Grant Number T32MH082761 from the National Institute of Mental Health (PI: Scott Crow). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Health, or the American Heart Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Samantha L. Hahn, Mikayla R. Barry, Heidi M. Weeks, Julie C. Lumeng & Kendrin R. Sonneville

  2. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Samantha L. Hahn

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Samantha L. Hahn

  4. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Alison L. Miller

  5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Julie C. Lumeng

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  1. Samantha L. Hahn
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Correspondence to Samantha L. Hahn.

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The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.

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Both study waves of the ABC study were approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Michigan. Consent from parents and assent from the child were obtained prior to their participation in the study.

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Hahn, S.L., Barry, M.R., Weeks, H.M. et al. Parental perceptions of actual and ideal body weight in early childhood prospectively predict adolescent perceptions of actual and ideal body weight among a low-income population. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2371–2379 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01088-y

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