Perceptions of Primary Caregivers on Children’s Weight Status Versus Actual Weight Status in Children Aged 6–15 Years — China, 2021

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Childhood obesity has been linked to adverse health outcomes during both childhood and adulthood. An accurate understanding of children’s weight status by primary caregivers is essential for effective weight management strategies. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? The data utilized in this study were obtained from the 2021 Nutrition Improvement Program for Rural Compulsory Education Students in China. It was found that over one-third of primary caregivers underestimated their children’s weight status, and more than half of the primary caregivers of overweight or obese children underreported the weight status of those children. A low level of agreement was observed between primary caregivers’ perceptions of their children’s weight status and the actual weight status. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? There is a relatively higher underestimation of children’s weight in China, which necessitates more effective strategies to enhance the primary caregivers’ perception of their children’s weight status, especially in primary caregivers of males, younger children and children in urban areas.