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	More than eight in 10 parents of overweight or obese children underestimate their size.</p>
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	A study presented at the European Obesity Summit looked at how parents perceive the weight of their overweight children.</p>
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	Parents of 2,845 children aged five to six years received a questionnaire and were asked to score their perception of their child&#39;s weight on a five-point scale, ranging from &#39;too light&#39; to &#39;too heavy&#39;.</p>
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	Children&#39;s height and weight were measured during their routine visit to youth healthcare clinics. Parents and siblings&#39; height and weight were self-reported.</p>
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	In total, 2,203 (77.4pc) children were included in the analysis. A total of 14.5pc of children were overweight and 3.3pc obese.</p>
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	Some 82pc of parents underestimated their child&#39;s weight. The prevalence of overweight in children is rising, with one in four children overweight or obese.</p>
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	Being overweight in childhood is a risk factor for diseases in adulthood.</p>
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	To prevent and treat children who are overweight, it is important that parents recognise the weight status of their children.</p>
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	Parents from families with more than 50pc overweight members, including parents and siblings, underestimated their overweight and obese children more, the study found.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 7th June 2016)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/parents-underestimating-obese-childrens-weight-34773995.html">http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/parents-underestimating-obese-childrens-weight-34773995.html</a></p>
