ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9641-7406
Abstract
Childhood obesity is a major health issue globally. The prevalence rate remains high in Ohio, with associated complications among affected children and adolescents. The current study examined the association among obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, feeding behavior, and child weight outcome while controlling for race, gender, income, and education. We collected quantitative data through an online survey of parents in Northwest Ohio (n = 71) using the obesity risk knowledge scale and factors from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. We analyzed data using multiple linear regression. The primary outcome measures were feeding behavior and child weight status. Parental obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, or concern about child weight was significantly associated with feeding behavior [F (6, 64) = 4.459, p < .001] and child weight outcome [F (6, 64) = 3.351, p = .006]. Risk perception significantly predicted parental feeding behavior of pressure to eat and food restriction, while the association among parental obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, and child weight status was modified by parental gender. The findings of the study suggest that parents’ perceptions or concerns about their child’s weight and their gender have a greater influence on their feeding intentions, behavior, and child weight than knowledge of obesity risk. Thus, interventions for childhood obesity could focus on addressing the parents’ risk perception and gender-tailored education to improve their feeding intentions, feeding behavior, and weight outcomes in children.
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons
