A Review of Parental Misperception of Children’s Body Weight in Arab Communities

Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity have become growing international public health concerns, with an accumulating body of evidence suggesting that their prevalence is increasing in Arab communities. Parental perception is among the factors shown to influence children’s weight status and health-related behaviors and outcomes. Therefore, this review aimed to explore parental misperception of children’s body weight. This review summarizes findings from previous studies that focus on parental perception, feeding habits, cultural attitudes, and the psychological and behavioral implications of weight misperception. The reviewed literature indicates that many parents tend to underestimate the weight of their children, particularly in cases of overweight and obesity. Misperception is influenced by several factors, such as cultural beliefs that equate increased body mass with health and well-being, limited health literacy and limited access to credible information. The results also indicate that there was a significant association between parental misperception and inappropriate feeding practices that include overfeeding and lack of dietary control, which may contribute to unhealthy weight trajectories. Moreover, parental misperception is associated with psychological and behavioral consequences in children, including body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and high risk of disordered eating behaviors in children. Parental communication and weight-related stigma have also been identified as influential factors affecting the emotional well-being of children. In conclusion, parental misperception of children’s body weight  is a multidimensional and complicated issue, which necessitates coordinated educational, cultural, and healthcare interventions. Addressing this issue is critical for improving the physical and psychological health outcomes of children and reducing the burden of childhood obesity in Arab communities in the long-term.