Parents of obese children struggle to recognise that their child has a weight problem, according to new research.
The study found that almost a third of patients underestimated where their child’s BMI (body mass index) sat on official obesity scales, which classify children as obese, overweight, healthy weight or underweight.
The scientists questioned the parents of 2,976 children taking part in the National Child Measurement Programme. Just four parents identified their children as obese, while 369 children officially fell into that category.
The researchers, who published their study in the British Journal of General Practice, said that doctors and policymakers should keep their findings in mind when responding to Britain’s child obesity problem. Statistics show that almost a third of children in Year 6