Comparisons between African American Girls' and Parents' Perceptions of Girls' Weight Concerns and Weight Control Behaviors∗

∗This research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant number U01 HL62662.

Abstract

Weight concerns and weight control behaviors were evaluated among sixty 8–10 year-old African American girls and their parents/caregivers. Girls completed the McKnight Risk Factor Survey and parents completed a modified version regarding perceptions of their daughters' concerns and behaviors. Significant correlations between girls' and parents' were seen for Overconcern with Weight and Shape (r = .56) and Weight Control Behaviors (r = .33). Parents' correctly identified 72% of girls' responses for Overconcern with Weight and Shape, 60% for Binge, 85% for Purging and 58% for Weight Control Behaviors scales using clinical cutoffs. However, more stringent agreement coefficients indicated generally poor concordance between girls and parents. The modified McKnight may be useful for assessing awareness of these issues.

Notes

∗This research was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant number U01 HL62662.

¹ Parent(s) refers to parent(s)/caregiver(s) of the GEMS participant.

Stanford School of Medicine: Laboratory for the Study of Behavioral Medicine: McKnight Foundation Studies. McKnight Risk Factor Survey-IV Norms. Retrieved November 26, 2005, from http://bml.stanford.edu/mcknight.html (http://bml.stanford.edu/NORMS.PDF)