Objective:

Few studies have processed to evaluate the relation between parental perception of their child’s body weight and appetite. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between parental visual perception of their child’s body weight, height and appetite.

Material and Methods:

This cross sectional study was performed in January to May 2007 at A¤r› Do¤ubayaz›t State Hospital in Turkey. Parents of children who had low appetite or failure to thrive were enrolled to study. They were asked about the child’s appetite and to circle the sketch that most resembled their child. Children’s weight and height were measured and z scores were calculated. Appropriate statistical techniques were studied to determine the relations between parental visual perception of their child’s growth and children’s appetite and growth.

Results:

We determined that parental misclassification of child’s weight and height status was common. Only 16.7% of parents perceived the right status. Relation between visual perception score and body weight and height z scores is not significant, although there is no relation between appetite and parental visual perception.

Conclusion:

Low appetite and failure to thrive are evaluated together; however there is numerous well nourished children who have low appetite. Parental visual perception of their child’s growth is affected from various factors, so it can be misclassified commonly. When a child has low appetite and failure to thrive, parental complaints must be considered. Health staff must reduce parental anxiety about their child’s appetite and growth rate, and must manage the appropriate treatment for the child’s status.

Keywords: Appetite, parental perception, failure to thrive, body weight z score, growth