Preschool-Age Chinese Children's Weight Status: WHO Classification, Parent Ratings, Child/Family Characteristics

Purpose: We aimed to compare preschool-age Chinese children's weight status based on the WHO guidelines with parental ratings on their children's body type, and child/ family demographic characteristics. Method: The sample included 171 preschool-age children (M = 60.5 months, SD= 6.7; boys: 46.8%) randomly selected from 23 classrooms. Based on BMIs from their height and weight from physical examinations, the children were divided into three groups using the 2006 WHO guidelines: underweight (n = 46), normal weight (n = 65), and overweight (n = 60). Data on the parental ratings of children's current body type, ideal body type and child/ family demographic characteristics were collected with surveys. Results: Parents' accurately classified 91.1% of the underweight children, 52.3% of the normalweight children, and 61.7% of the overweight children. In terms of ideal body shape for their children, parents typically wanted their children to have normal weight or to remain underweight. Most of the child and family demographic characteristics were not different across children who were underweight, had normal weight, and were overweight. Conclusion: Because parents tended to underestimate their children's weight status, it is important to increase Chinese parents' knowledge onwhat constitutes healthy weight, aswell as the potential harmof overweight status for children's development. Training healthcare providers in kindergartens and pediatric clinics toworkwith parents to recognize unhealthy weight status in children is valuable. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.