Self-perception and parental perception of psychological distress in overweight and obese children

Since family context is considered to be an important environmental factor for the attitude of children towards eating, the perception of psychological distress in children and the parental perception of child behavioural and emotional problems were investigated. School-age children (n = 665; 8–11 years of age), selected from different schools, were classified into weight categories according to their BMI. The children completed the Self-Administrated Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents and their parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist. Obese children reported more psychological distress compared to the other children, while their parents did not show a greater perception of emotional problems, compared to parents of normal-weight children. This suggests that the psychological distress of obese children might not be recognised by their parents. Our results highlight the role of this lack of parental awareness in child development, and in the progress of the psychological distress related to eating problems.