PARENTAL PERCEPTION OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN AN INNER-CITY AREA OF PALERMO, ITALY

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Sicilian schoolchildren is one of the highest ever reported: indeed, prevalence of overweight and obesity appears to be nearly 40% at age 11 and over 25% at age 15. Excessive weight during childhood stems fromseveral interacting factors, including poor diet and exercise habits. The objective of this study was to evaluate in a sample of parents living in an inner-city area of Palermo, Italy, the perception of weight excess as a problem in childhood and the awareness about the role of physical activity, beliefs about contributors and parties having responsibility in counteracting the obesity crisis. Methods: A cross-sectional survey wa…