Kids can in many instances be far more image conscious that us adults. What with fitting in and the rather inevitably influence of bullies to deal with, youngsters are often more than aware of their imperfections to a somewhat disproportionate level.
As such, it’s come as quite the surprise to learn than a worrying proportion of the overweight and obese child population of the US has no idea at all of its weight problem.
“Being overweight or obese is associated with adverse health outcomes, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes,” warned nutritional epidemiologist Neda Sarafrazi, who spoke this week on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
“Children who have a misperception of their weight are not going to take steps to control their weight or reduce their weight, and reduce the risk of future health complications,”
“If people perceive their weight accurately, they can start weight-control behavior.”
The report produced by the CDC suggests that among Hispanic-America teens and kids, a full 34% consider themselves to be thinner than they actually are. The same 34% of black youngsters are also to a worrying extent unaware of their weight problems, while white teens and kids recorded a figure closer to 28%.
Regardless of the slightly differences between ethnicities, the overall picture is one of widespread misunderstanding.
When overweight kids were polled about their current size and shape, the figures became even more worrying. While 71% of the overweight girls polled thought that their current weight and shape was perfectly fine, a whopping 81% of boys had no idea that they were in fact considered officially overweight. In the category classified as officially obese, 36% of girls thought their weight was perfectly fine and 48% of boys were not aware of the fact that they were overweight.
Interestingly, the CDC’s study also suggested that there is a notable difference in obesity perception levels between kids from richer and poorer homes. While the likelihood of a wealthier kid thinking they’re of a healthy size when they’re actually overweight was 26%, a full 31% of those from poorer homes made the same misjudgment.
On the whole, the CDC reported that around 30% of teens and children have no idea that they are either too thin or too fat, with boys being much more likely than girls to think they’re a healthy size when they are in fact anything but.
“Weight perceptions are not as simple as asking how children view themselves at their current weight and comparing that with CDC weight definitions and categories,” commented clinical nutritionist Samantha Heller after the report was published.
“We tread a fine line when we talk to children and adolescents about their weight. Of concern is creating disordered eating patterns among kids who are labeled as misperceiving their weight.”
“We can help bring children and adolescents to appropriate weights by focusing on healthy foods, regular exercise and a positive self-image. Parents, educators and caregivers can make headway by becoming role models themselves and creating opportunities to support and enjoy healthy lifestyle choices and activities with children.”