Ethnic differences in self-rated overweight and association with reporting weight loss action: the SUNSET study.

AIM: To investigate ethnic differences in self-rated overweight and self-reported weight loss action. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (conducted in 2001-03) of 1441 residents (35-60 years) of Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Surinamese of South Asian (SA-Sur) and African (Afr-Sur) origin and ethnic Dutch. Self-rated overweight and self-reported weight loss action assessed by questionnaire. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) measured in a clinic setting. RESULTS: Compared with ethnic Dutch and adjusting for BMI, Afr-Sur men [odds ratio (OR) 0.32; 95% CI 0.19-0.57] and women (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.34-0.86) were less likely to rate themselves as overweight. However, adjustment for WC reduced differences in self-rated overweight (men: OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.46-1.35; women: OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.59-1.36). SA-Sur participants did not differ significantly from ethnic Dutch when adjusting for either BMI or WC. Surinamese participants were significantly more likely to report weight loss action independent of BMI, WC or self-rated overweight. In Afr-Sur men, elevated WC, not BMI was associated with reported weight loss action (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.35-3.99 vs. OR 1.52, 95% CI 0.89-2.58, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this population, differences in self-rated overweight were explained by measured weight variables (BMI or WC). Our results do not support the hypothesis that Surinamese migrants would be less likely to be attempting weight loss than their Dutch peers. Further research into the reasons underlying this finding and associated weight loss behaviour seems indicated.

Maternal attitudes and child-feeding practices: relationship with the BMI of Chilean children.

BACKGROUND: Chile has experienced the nutritional transition due to both social and economic progress. As a consequence, higher rates of overweight and obesity have been observed in children. In western countries, researchers have tried to determine pathways by which parents influence their children's eating behavior; up to now findings have been inconsistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cross-sectional and retrospective relationship between maternal attitudes and child-feeding practices and children's weight status in children who had been subject of an obesity prevention intervention for two years. METHODS: In 2006, for a cross-sectional study, a random sample of 232 children (125 girls, mean age 11.91 +/- 1.56 y and 107 boys mean age 11.98 +/- 1.51 y) was selected from three primary schools from a small city called Casablanca. Weight and height were determined to assess their nutritional status, using body mass index (BMI) z scores. Child-feeding practices and attitudes were determined cross-sectionally in 2006, using the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ). To analyze the relationship between trends in weight change and child-feeding practices and attitudes, BMI z scores of all the 232 children in 2003 were used. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, mothers of overweight children were significantly more concerned (P < 0.01) about their child's weight. Mothers of normal weight sons used significantly more pressure to eat (P < 0.05). Only in boys, the BMI z score was positively correlated with concern for child's weight (r = 0.28, P < 0.05) and negatively with pressure to eat (r = -0.21, P < 0.05). Retrospectively, the change in BMI z score between age 9 and 12 was positively correlated with concern for child's weight, but only in boys (r = 0.21, P < 0.05). Perceived child weight and concern for child's weight, explained 37% in boys and 45% in girls of the variance in BMI z score at age 12. CONCLUSION: Mothers of overweight children were more concerned with their children's weight; this indicated the Western negative attitude towards childhood overweight. None of the child-feeding practices were significantly correlated with a change in BMI z score.