Abstract

In recent years, the growing rate of childhood overweight and obesity has alerted the world. This problem begins at early ages due to the low acquisition of healthy habits, where the family nucleus plays a fundamental role and is the most significant place for the acquisition of behaviors. Objective: To compare the level of knowledge, frequency and eating habits of parents according to the body mass index (BMI) of their children. Methods: A total of 235 parents of children aged 6 to 10 years, classified into three groups according to BMI (underweight, normal weight and overweight/obese) participated. BMI was evaluated and classified and a questionnaire of knowledge, habits and food frequency was applied to the parents. Results: It was evidenced that parents of underweight children have a better level of knowledge than those of normal weight and overweight/obese children (p=.00) and that parents of normal weight children have a better level of knowledge than those of overweight/obese children (p=.00), in all groups a low frequency of consumption of water, cheese and fast food and a high frequency of fruits and vegetables, white and red meats were reported. The overweight/obese group presented the highest percentage of children who watch television while eating. Conclusion: There is a decrease in the parents' level of knowledge as their children's BMI increases, and a high consumption of healthy foods is evident, which is not consistent with the high levels of overweight/obesity in the children.