Chinese parents' perceptions of their children's weights and their relationship to parenting behaviours.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine Chinese parents' perceptions of their children's weights and explore the parenting behaviours associated with these perceptions. METHODS: A total of 2143 adolescents and 1869 parents were recruited from secondary schools in Ganzhou and Shantou in China. The adolescents' actual weights and heights were measured by trained testers. The self-reported parents' weights and heights, parental perception of the adolescents' weights, adolescents' perception of their own weights, parenting behaviours and demographic information were collected through the questionnaires distributed to the respondents. RESULTS: The results based on Kappa statistics show only a slight agreement between parental perception of their children's weights and the adolescents' actual weights (Kappa = 0.221). The results from the logistic regression show that the parents' gender [odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-1.00], adolescents' gender (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.29-2.01) and perception of their own weights (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.24-0.38) are associated with the parents' perception of their children's weights. Statistically significant difference in several parenting behaviours was found between the parents with correct and incorrect perceptions of their children's weight. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Misconceptions about their children's weights are prevalent among Chinese parents. The association between parents' perception of their children's weight and parenting behaviours suggests that the accurate classification of children's weights could help prevent childhood obesity.

Evaluation of energy expenditure and cardiovascular health effects from Tai Chi and walking exercise.

1. A 12-week Tai Chi or walking exercise intervention produced significant and similar beneficial effects on body composition, aerobic fitness, muscular fitness, fasting blood glucose, resting metabolic rate, and perceived health in middle-aged Chinese. 2. While Tai Chi and walking both elicited significant cardiorespiratory responses and energy expenditure to the moderate intensity level, walking exercise elicited about 46% higher metabolic cost than Tai Chi exercise.

Association between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in Hong Kong Chinese: the 'better health for better Hong Kong' health promotion campaign.

OBJECTIVE: To study the inter-relationships between sleeping hours, working hours and obesity in subjects from a working population. RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross-sectional observation study under the 'Better Health for Better Hong Kong' Campaign, which is a territory-wide health awareness and promotion program. SUBJECTS: 4793 subjects (2353 (49.1%) men and 2440 (50.9%) women). Their mean age (+/-s.d.) was 42.4+/-8.9 years (range 17-83 years, median 43.0 years). Subjects were randomly selected using computer-generated codes in accordance to the distribution of occupational groups in Hong Kong. RESULTS: The mean daily sleeping time was 7.06+/-1.03 h (women vs men: 7.14+/-1.08 h vs 6.98+/-0.96 h, P<0.001). Increasing body mass index (BMI) was associated with reducing number of sleeping hours and increasing number of working hours reaching significance in the whole group as well as among male subjects. Those with short sleeping hour (6 h or less) and long working hours (>9 h) had the highest BMI and waist in both men and women. Based on multiple regression analysis with age, smoking, alcohol drinking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean daily sleeping hours and working hours as independent variables, BMI was independently associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women, whereas waist was associated with age, smoking and blood pressure. In men, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours were independently associated with BMI, whereas waist was independently associated with age, smoking, blood pressure, sleeping hours and working hours in men. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with reduced sleeping hours and long working hours in men among Hong Kong Chinese working population. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implication on prevention and management of obesity.

Evaluation of the effect of energy conservation techniques in the performance of activity of daily living tasks.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether energy conservation techniques during common activity of daily living tasks actually result in lower energy expenditure, and to document subjective comments regarding any differences in the perceived level of effort. DESIGN: Descriptive study comparing energy expenditure in three tasks with and without energy conservation techniques, taking into account the effect of age. SETTING: Occupational therapy department of a rehabilitation hospital in Hong Kong. SUBJECTS: One hundred and eight subjects (30 < 60 years; 78 > or = 60 years) were recruited from staff and members of an elderly social centre in the community. MEASUREMENTS: Energy expenditure was measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system for three tasks (shopping, washing clothes and hanging laundry) with and without energy conservation techniques. Dyspnoea, fatigue and perceived exertion were measured using visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Reduction in energy expenditure using energy conservation techniques for shopping and hanging laundry was documented in younger subjects only (O2 consumption fell from 13.8 +/- 3.7 to 12.2 +/- 3.8 mL/min per kg for shopping, P < 0.001 and 5.9 +/- 1.2 to 5.0 -/+ 1.2 mL/min per kg, P < 0.001 for hanging laundry), although the older subjects experienced less perceived exertion with the energy conservation techniques. For washing clothes, no reduction in energy expenditure was observed in either age groups. CONCLUSION: Measurable benefits were observed with use of labour-saving equipment and avoidance of overhead reaching in younger subjects only.