Maternal-child overweight relationship, assessment of maternal perception of child weight status and feeding behaviours.

Background: Parents play a key role in constructing children' behaviours. We studies maternal-child overweight relationship and compared maternal perception of child weight status and feeding behaviours between groups of normal-weight and overweight children.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 192 girls aged 10-13 years and their mothers. They were divided to two groups of overweight (n = 94) and normal-weight (n = 98) children. Anthropometric characteristics were measured for children and mothers. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between child overweight and tertiles of maternal body mass index (BMI). Maternal perception of child's weight status and her engagement in promoting child's healthy behaviours was assessed.

Results: BMI and waist circumference was significantly higher in children (P < 0.001) and mothers (P < 0.01) of overweight compared to normal-weight group. There was a significant relationship between children's overweight and tertiles of maternal BMI, which remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. Mothers of overweight children were more concerned for their child's overeating and overweight, and for compelling the child to diet to maintain a desirable weight (P < 0.001). In contrast, mothers of normal-weight children restricted sugar-sweetened drinks (P = 0.008), offered fruit and vegetables (P = 0.035), and helped their children to get enough physical activity (P = 0.022) and night sleep (P = 0.001) more than mothers in other group.

Conclusions: This study showed a strong relationship between children and mothers' overweight. Despite being more concerned about their child weight status, mothers of overweight children reported behaviours which were less encouraging the children for healthy eating and lifestyle than mothers of normal-weight children.