La percezione della condizione di obesità nelle diadi mamma-bambino. Uno studio esplorativo in famiglie con background migratorio

The perception of body size is a key factor in driving eating behaviour and consequently shaping health status. As shown in many studies, mothers from ethnic minorities and lower socio-economic status are much more likely to incorrectly identify their children’s obesity or overweight status. Very few studies on the child’s perception of the mother’s body size in these families are available. This study aimed to assess body size awareness in migrant mother-child dyads. The study involved 94 mother-child dyads, from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, who had been in Italy for less than 24 months. The Stunkard figure rating scale was used for data collection. The results show that, even families with a migratory background, overweight or obese mothers and children often underestimate their own size, while the children of obese mothers very often underestimate also their mother’s body size.