Essay Nutrition: Nutrition and Normal Weight Children

Submitted By hannahclarke10
Words: 601
Pages: 3

Sample Reviews
Source: Amy Nancy K., O’Dea Jennifer A. (2011). Perceived and desired weight, weight related eating and exercising behaviours, and advice received from parents among thin, overweight, obese or normal weight Australian children and adolescents. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, 8 (1): 68-75.

Purpose: Whether a child is overweight or underweight, it matters to their health in many aspects such as: future health risks and emotional health risks. Small and underweight boys are more likely to get teased about their weight than overweight boys, and thin boys along with girls will have bad eating habits and weight control. By comparing the attitudes of underweight and overweight children, this study observes the relationships of actual weight and desired weight, eating and exercising behaviors, and parents input on the weight of children.
Study Variables: During the study, three different measures were used. A large sample was used of young children. The first measure was the frequency of thinness, regular weight and overweight in the sample. The next measure taken was the differences in what the observed weight and desired weight was, eating and exercise habits and concern about weight. The last variable studied was advice given to children from their parents, and the child’s attitudes toward their body size.
Overview of Statistical Analysis: ‘Chi-square’ tests were done to compare the different in image and weight, separating them by weight and male/female. Different chi-square tests were run to analyze the different variables and groups. The tests were then tested through Bonferroni’s to correct and show extreme differences.
Overall Findings: For the first variable in the study, perceived and desired weight, showing that about 57 percent of underweight students thought their weight was “about right”. The next variables studied were the eating behaviors. Results show that thinner and normal weight students showed eating breakfast, lunch and dinner more frequently than the overweight children. Also, primary students were shown to eat breakfast more frequently than secondary schooling students. In the obese students, the breakfast had lower nutritional value than the breakfast of a thin/normal weighted student. The last variable measured found that different weighted children and children of different genders received varying advice from parents. About 41 percent of