Effect of an obesity pamphlet on parental perception and knowledge of excess weight in their children: results of a randomised controlled trial

Issues addressed: This study examined the effectiveness of a brief educational intervention in increasing parental knowledge of childhood obesity risk factors and ability to correctly identify their child's weight status. Methods: Eighty parents were randomly allocated to an experimental group given an obesity pamphlet or a control group given a stress management pamphlet. A survey measured parents' knowledge about risk factors, cause and consequences of childhood obesity, and perception of their child's weight. Results: Parents with overweight or obese children increased their understanding of childhood obesity immediately after receiving the intervention, but did not differ significantly on perception of their child's weight. Conclusion: The experimental intervention increased knowledge of health risks associated with childhood obesity in parents of overweight or obese children. Parental perception of their child's weight status did not improve, suggesting that other factors have a role to play. So what? The obesity pamphlet may be a useful tool in a multifaceted approach targeting childhood obesity.