Pediatric Obesity Management: Parental Attitudes and Knowledge

Obesity has become a global epidemic having serious negative health and psychological consequences for children and adolescents. The negative psychological and physiological consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity can continue into adulthood. Unfortunately, few studies have explored the effect of parental nutrition knowledge and the parent—pediatrician relationship with regard to the development and treatment of pediatric obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess parental nutrition knowledge and parental attitude toward their child's or adolescent's pediatrician. The specific objectives were to: (a) assess parental knowledge of nutrition, (b) assess parents' attitudes regarding their child's or adolescent's pediatrician, and (c) assess the correlation between parental nutrition knowledge and parental attitudes toward the pediatrician