Honestly, Is Your Kid Too Fat?

“There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it,” goes one Chinese proverb about the power of parental love to shape our perceptions of our children.

While that forgiving lens can be merciful when it comes to traits that cannot be changed, it’s not so benign when it comes to childhood obesity. Nearly half of parents with an obese child believe their child is “about the right weight” — a disconnect that could doom the doted-upon to a lifelong weight problem and all the attendant ailments.

A University of Michigan online poll asked 1,400 parents their children’s height and weight to calculate body mass index, then compared this with parents’ characterization of their children’s weight. As indicated below, among parents of obese children between 6-11 years old, almost 80 percent said their kid was either “about the right weight” or “slightly overweight” — while some even thought their obese child was “slightly underweight.” Among parents of obese 12-17 year-olds, the disconnect diminished — only 11 percent said their obese adolescent was at the “right weight.”

Among parents of obese children between 6-11 years old, almost 80 percent said their kid was either “about the right weight” or “slightly overweight.”

Another study from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill found that 68 percent of parents with an obese child underestimated their child’s weight — even when that child was already showing signs of Type 2 diabetes. While many parents fear that “making a big deal” about harmless “baby fat” will backfire, Stanford research confirms that parents who demonstrate the least concern about their children’s weight tend to have the heaviest kids.

Adults are also in denial about their own weight issues: In one British survey, a quarter of obese or overweight respondents did not want to lose weight.

Parents can protect their children’s health by realistically addressing any weight issues and adopting a structured approach that turns off the TV, puts fruit and vegetables on the table, and makes physical activity a family affair.

This article was originally created by the Dole Nutrition Institute.