Abstract
Adolescence is characterized by rapid physical growth and sexual maturation. These
changes may alter parents' beliefs about their adolescent's weight status. This study
aimed to examine the changes between early and mid-adolescence in: (a) the accuracy
of maternal perception regarding her adolescent's weight status, (b) the degree of
maternal concern about her adolescent's weight status, and (c) the predictors of maternal
misclassification of adolescent overweight as average weight. A secondary analysis
of the longitudinal Nepean Study data was conducted. Participants were Australian,
free-living 13-year-olds in 2002-2003 (n=347) followed up at age 15 years (n=279)
and their mothers. Participants' body mass index (BMI) status (overweight, normal,
or underweight) was calculated from measured height and weight. Maternal perceptions
and concerns about adolescent's weight status were determined by items adapted from
the Child Feeding Questionnaire. Sex-adjusted binary logistic regression models assessed
potential predictors of maternal misclassification of adolescent overweight. Data
were available on 224 adolescent-mother dyads. Approximately one fourth of mothers
misclassified their adolescent's weight status, but this varied across groups (age
13 years [%]; age 15 years [%], respectively) underweight (75%; 70%), overweight (54%;
59%), and normal weight (12%; 9%). The endpoint data show that between 13 and 15 years
of age, maternal concern regarding their adolescent's weight decreased in all weight-status
groups. Predictors of maternal misclassification of adolescent overweight were adolescent
BMI z score, recent weight-management practices, weight history, sex, and maternal concern
regarding her adolescent's weight. These results reinforce the need for strategies
in primary care that are implemented throughout adolescence to improve maternal awareness
of childhood overweight.
Keywords
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Biography
V. A. Shrewsbury is a research officer, Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia; at the time of the study, she was a PhD student, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Biography
S. P. Garnett is a senior research fellow and a senior lecturer, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, at the Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and at the Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
Biography
K. Campbell is a senior lecturer, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Biography
A. Carver is a research fellow, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Biography
S. Torvaldsen is senior lecturer and academic program codirector, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Biography
K. S. Steinbeck is professor and chair in Adolescent Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
Biography
C. T. Cowell is a professor, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, and acting director of research, Kids Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
Biography
L. A. Baur is a professor and director of Weight Management Services, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 20, 2012
Accepted:
August 17,
2012
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This study was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Grant (no. 206501) and Meat and Livestock Australia. V. A. S. was supported by an NHMRC Biomedical Postgraduate Scholarship (no. 505009). S. P. G. was supported by an NHMRC Australian Clinical Research Fellowship 2007 to 2010 (no. 457225) and a Cancer Institute NSW Fellowship 2011 to 2013 (10/ECF/2-11). K. C. is supported by a Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Fellowship. The funding organizations had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
