Dataset Information

Perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body image: a cross-sectional study in early primary school children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite parental concern, few studies have investigated children's experiences with school-based screening of growth deviations. This study aimed to explore perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body size dissatisfaction (BSD) among third-grade children aged 8-9 years in central Norway.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and April 2022, perceptions of height and weight screening and BSD were assessed individually among 209 children (49% girls) through researcher-assisted interviews.

Results

Most children indicated satisfaction with the screening by selecting a happy emoji, whereas only 1% indicated dissatisfaction, by selecting an unhappy emoji. However, 23%-30% selected a neutral emoji, indicating either neutrality or a response between satisfaction and dissatisfaction. No difference in the perception of height and weight screening was found between genders or body mass index (BMI). Children with parents from non-Western countries had a higher risk of being less satisfied with the height screening (OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.3) than those from Western origin, and children attending schools with lower socioeconomic status (SES) had increased risk of being less satisfied with both height (OR=5.5, 95% CI 2.2 to 13.5) and weight screening (OR=4.0, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.3), compared with children from schools with medium-high SES. Twenty-three percent reported BSD, in which 14% and 9% desired a thinner or larger body, respectively, independent of gender and BMI. No association was found between BSD and the perception of weighing (OR=1.1, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.4), however, BSD was associated with being more satisfied with height screening (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.8).

Conclusion

In the present sample, most children indicated satisfaction with school-based height and weight screening, with no differences between gender or BMI category. However, more children of non-Western origin and from areas with low SES reported less satisfaction with the screening, independent of BSD.

SUBMITTER: Drilen TL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11163671 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body image: a cross-sectional study in early primary school children.

Drilen Tove Langlo TL Eik-Nes Trine Tetlie TT Ersfjord Ellen Margrete Iveland EMI Klöckner Christian Andreas CA Ødegård Rønnaug Astri RA

BMJ paediatrics open 20240608 1

<h4>Background</h4>Despite parental concern, few studies have investigated children's experiences with school-based screening of growth deviations. This study aimed to explore perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body size dissatisfaction (BSD) among third-grade children aged 8-9 years in central Norway.<h4>Methods</h4>In a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and April 2022, perceptions of height and weight screening and BSD were assessed individually among 20 ...[more]

PMID: 38851222

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Dataset Information

Perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body image: a cross-sectional study in early primary school children.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body image: a cross-sectional study in early primary school children.

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