8 research outputs found
Parental Perceptions of Childrenâs Weight Status in 22 Countries: The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: COSI 2015/2017
Introduction: Parents can act as important agents of change
and support for healthy childhood growth and development. Studies have found that parents may not be able to
accurately perceive their childâs weight status. The purpose
of this study was to measure parental perceptions of their
childâs weight status and to identify predictors of potential
parental misperceptions. Methods: We used data from the
World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood
Obesity Surveillance Initiative and 22 countries. Parents
were asked to identify their perceptions of their childrenâs
weight status as âunderweight,â ânormal weight,â âa little
overweight,â or âextremely overweight.â We categorized
childrenâs (6â9 years; n = 124,296) body mass index (BMI) as
BMI-for-age Z-scores based on the 2007 WHO-recommended growth references. For each country included in the analysis and pooled estimates (country level), we calculated the
distribution of children according to the WHO weight status
classification, distribution by parental perception of childâs
weight status, percentages of accurate, overestimating, or
underestimating perceptions, misclassification levels, and
predictors of parental misperceptions using a multilevel logistic regression analysis that included only children with
overweight (including obesity). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 15 1. Results: Overall, 64.1% of
parents categorized their childâs weight status accurately
relative to the WHO growth charts. However, parents were
more likely to underestimate their childâs weight if the child
had overweight (82.3%) or obesity (93.8%). Parents were
more likely to underestimate their childâs weight if the child
was male (adjusted OR [adjOR]: 1.41; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.28â1.55); the parent had a lower educational level
(adjOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.26â1.57); the father was asked rather
than the mother (adjOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.98â1.33); and the
family lived in a rural area (adjOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.99â1.24).
Overall, parentsâ BMI was not strongly associated with the
underestimation of childrenâs weight status, but there was a
stronger association in some countries. Discussion/Conclusion: Our study supplements the current literature on factors
that influence parental perceptions of their childâs weight
status. Public health interventions aimed at promoting
healthy childhood growth and development should consider parentsâ knowledge and perceptions, as well as the sociocultural contexts in which children and families live.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from a grant from
the Russian Government in the context of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs. Data collection in the
countries was made possible through funding by: Albania: World
Health Organization through the Joint Programme on Children,
Food Security and Nutrition âReducing Malnutrition in Children,â funded by the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, and the Institute of Public Health; Bulgaria: Ministry
of Health, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, World
Health Organization Regional Office for Europe; Croatia: Ministry of Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health and World
Health Organization Regional Office for Europe; Czechia: Grants
AZV MZÄR 17-31670 A and MZÄR â RVO EĂ 00023761; Denmark: Danish Ministry of Health; France: French Public Health
Agency; Georgia: World Health Organization; Ireland: Health
Service Executive; Italy: Ministry of Health; Istituto Superiore di
sanitĂ (National Institute of Health); Kazakhstan: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and World Health Organization Country Office; Latvia: n/a; Lithuania: Science Foundation of
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Science
Council and World Health Organization; Malta: Ministry of
Health; Montenegro: World Health Organization and Institute of
Public Health of Montenegro; Poland: National Health Programme, Ministry of Health; Portugal: Ministry of Health Institutions, the National Institute of Health, Directorate General of
Health, Regional Health Directorates and the kind technical support of Center for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and
Health (CEIDSS); Romania: Ministry of Health; Russia (Moscow): n/a; San Marino: Health Ministry; Educational Ministry; Social Security Institute; the Health Authority; Spain: Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN); Tajikistan: World
Health Organization Country Office in Tajikistan and Ministry of
Health and Social Protection; and Turkmenistan: World Health
Organization Country Office in Turkmenistan and Ministry of
Health. The authors alone are responsible for the views expressed
in this article and they do not necessarily represent the views, decisions, or policies of the institutions with which they are affiliated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Thinness, overweight, and obesity in 6â to 9âyearâold children from 36 countries: The World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative - COSI 2015-2017
In 2015-2017, the fourth round of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was conducted in 36 countries. National representative samples of children aged 6â9 (203,323) were measured by trained staff, with similar equipment and using a standardized protocol. This paper assesses the children's body weight status and compares the burden of childhood overweight, obesity, and thinness in Northern, Eastern, and Southern Europe and Central Asia. The results show great geographic variability in height, weight, and body mass index. On average, the children of Northern Europe were the tallest, those of Southern Europe the heaviest, and the children living in Central Asia the lightest and the shortest. Overall, 28.7% of boys and 26.5% of girls were overweight (including obesity) and 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively, were thin according to the WHO definitions. The prevalence of obesity varied from 1.8% of boys and 1.1% of girls in Tajikistan to 21.5% and 19.2%, respectively, in Cyprus, and tended to be higher for boys than for girls. Levels of thinness, stunting, and underweight were relatively low, except in Eastern Europe (for thinness) and in Central Asia. Despite the efforts to halt it, unhealthy weight status is still an important problem in the WHO European Region.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from a grant from the
Russian Government in the context of the WHO European Office for
the Prevention and Control of NCDs. Data collection in the countries
was made possible through funding from the following: Albania:
WHO through the Joint Programme on Children, Food Security and
Nutrition âReducing Malnutrition in Children,â funded by the
Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, and the Institute
of Public Health; Austria: Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health,
Care and Consumer Protection, Republic of Austria; Bulgaria: Ministry
of Health, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, WHO
Regional Office for Europe; Croatia: Ministry of Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health and WHO Regional Office for Europe; Czechia:
Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, grants AZV MZÄR
17-31670 A and MZÄR â RVO EĂ 00023761; Cyprus: not available;
Denmark: Danish Ministry of Health; Estonia: Ministry of Social
Affairs, Ministry of Education and Research (IUT 42-2), WHO Country
Office, and National Institute for Health Development; Finland: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare; France: Santé publique France,
the French Agency for Public Health; Georgia: WHO; Greece: International Hellenic University and Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity; Hungary: WHO Country Office for Hungary; Ireland: Health
Service Executive; Italy: Ministry of Health and Italian National Institute of Health; Kazakhstan: Ministry of Health of the Republic of
Kazakhstan and WHO Country Office; Kyrgyzstan: World Health
Organization; Latvia: Ministry of Health, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; Lithuania: Science Foundation of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Science Council and WHO;
Malta: Ministry of Health; Montenegro: WHO and Institute of Public
Health of Montenegro; North Macedonia: funded by the Government
of North Macedonia through National Annual Program of Public
Health and implemented by the Institute of Public Health and Centers
of Public Health in the country. WHO country office provided support
for training and data management; Norway: Ministry of Health and
Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Poland: National Health Programme, Ministry of Health; Portugal: Ministry of Health Institutions,
the National Institute of Health, Directorate General of Health,
Regional Health Directorates and the kind technical support from the
Center for Studies and Research on Social Dynamics and Health
(CEIDSS); Romania: Ministry of Health; Russian Federation: WHO;
San Marino: Health Ministry, Educational Ministry, Social Security
Institute and Health Authority; Serbia: World Health Organization
(Ref. File 2015-540940); Slovakia: Biennial Collaborative Agreement
between WHO Regional Office for Europe and Ministry of Health SR;
Slovenia: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of
Slovenia within the SLOfit surveillance system; Spain: Spanish Agency
for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN); Sweden: Public Health
Agency of Sweden; Tajikistan: WHO Country Office in Tajikistan and
Ministry of Health and Social Protection; Turkmenistan: WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan and Ministry of Health; Turkey: Turkish Ministry of Health and World Bank.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration of children aged 6-9 years in 25 countries:An analysis within the WHO european childhood obesity surveillance initiative (COSI) 2015-2017
BACKGROUND: Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary screen-based activities both during school and leisure time are increasing. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration of girls and boys aged 6-9 years in Europe using data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). METHOD: The fourth COSI data collection round was conducted in 2015-2017, using a standardized protocol that included a family form completed by parents with specific questions about their children's PA, screen time, and sleep duration. RESULTS: Nationally representative data from 25 countries was included and information on the PA behaviour, screen time, and sleep duration of 150,651 children was analysed. Pooled analysis showed that: 79.4% were actively playing for >1 h each day, 53.9% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 50.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 60.2% engaged in screen time for 1 h/day, 8.2-85.6% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 17.7-94.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 32.3-80.0% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 50.0-95.8% slept for 9-11 h/night. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of engagement in PA and the achievement of healthy screen time and sleep duration are heterogenous across the region. Policymakers and other stakeholders, including school administrators and parents, should increase opportunities for young people to participate in daily PA as well as explore solutions to address excessive screen time and short sleep duration to improve the overall physical and mental health and well-being of children
Physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration of children aged 6-9 years in 25 countries:An analysis within the WHO european childhood obesity surveillance initiative (COSI) 2015-2017
Background: Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary screen-based activities both during school and leisure time are increasing. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration of girls and boys aged 6-9 years in Europe using data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Method: The fourth COSI data collection round was conducted in 2015-2017, using a standardized protocol that included a family form completed by parents with specific questions about their children's PA, screen time, and sleep duration. Results: Nationally representative data from 25 countries was included and information on the PA behaviour, screen time, and sleep duration of 150,651 children was analysed. Pooled analysis showed that: 79.4% were actively playing for >1 h each day, 53.9% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 50.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 60.2% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 84.9% slept for 9-11 h/night. Country-specific analyses of these behaviours showed pronounced differences, with national prevalences in the range of 61.7-98.3% actively playing for >1 h/day, 8.2-85.6% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 17.7-94.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 32.3-80.0% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 50.0-95.8% slept for 9-11 h/night. Conclusions: The prevalence of engagement in PA and the achievement of healthy screen time and sleep duration are heterogenous across the region. Policymakers and other stakeholders, including school administrators and parents, should increase opportunities for young people to participate in daily PA as well as explore solutions to address excessive screen time and short sleep duration to improve the overall physical and mental health and well-being of children. </p
Parental Perceptions of Children's Weight Status in 22 Countries::The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: COSI 2015/2017
INTRODUCTION: Parents can act as important agents of change and support for healthy childhood growth and development. Studies have found that parents may not be able to accurately perceive their child's weight status. The purpose of this study was to measure parental perceptions of their child's weight status and to identify predictors of potential parental misperceptions. METHODS: We used data from the World Health Organization (WHO) European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative and 22 countries. Parents were asked to identify their perceptions of their children's weight status as âunderweight,â ânormal weight,â âa little overweight,â or âextremely overweight.â We categorized children's (6â9 years; n = 124,296) body mass index (BMI) as BMI-for-age Z-scores based on the 2007 WHO-recommended growth references. For each country included in the analysis and pooled estimates (country level), we calculated the distribution of children according to the WHO weight status classification, distribution by parental perception of child's weight status, percentages of accurate, overestimating, or underestimating perceptions, misclassification levels, and predictors of parental misperceptions using a multilevel logistic regression analysis that included only children with overweight (including obesity). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 15 1. RESULTS: Overall, 64.1% of parents categorized their child's weight status accurately relative to the WHO growth charts. However, parents were more likely to underestimate their child's weight if the child had overweight (82.3%) or obesity (93.8%). Parents were more likely to underestimate their child's weight if the child was male (adjusted OR [adjOR]: 1.41; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.28â1.55); the parent had a lower educational level (adjOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.26â1.57); the father was asked rather than the mother (adjOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.98â1.33); and the family lived in a rural area (adjOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.99â1.24). Overall, parents' BMI was not strongly associated with the underestimation of children's weight status, but there was a stronger association in some countries. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Our study supplements the current literature on factors that influence parental perceptions of their child's weight status. Public health interventions aimed at promoting healthy childhood growth and development should consider parents' knowledge and perceptions, as well as the sociocultural contexts in which children and families live