A Correlational Study on Maternal Control-Over-Eating and Child’s Weight among Fourth-Graders of Paco, Catholic School

Abstract

This study determined the relation between mother’s control-over- eating and their child’s weight. Respondents included were 72 mothers of third-graders from Paco Catholic School. A survey questionnaire with a 15-item Control-Over-Eating Scale developed by the researcher was utilized. Personal information, body mass index (BMI) measures of mothers, and weight of child were also gathered. Results of the present study indicated less control-over-eating exhibited by mothers in relation to a child’s overweight status. Also, perceptions of mothers regarding their own and their child’s weights play a more crucial role in identifying significant control-over-eating than the actual BMI and weight measures. Further, there was a lack of or weak associations between mother’s control-over-eating and factors such as mother’s perception of own weight, mother’s BMI, mother’s educational level and working status, and household monthly income. Recommendations were made to help dispel some myths about overweight and obesity in children and provide more straightforward evidence for clinicians, also to identify strategies in dealing with the growing problem of overweight and obesity.