Feeding in Five-Year-Old Children with Overweight and Obesity from the Maternal Perspective, in Peru

Gutiérrez Vilca B.G.; Rivas Díaz L.H. · Revista Cubana de Pediatria (2026)

Resumen

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are chronic diseases that affect children’s quality of life. The mother plays an important role as she is responsible for their care and the first educator of healthy habits. Objective: To characterize maternal perception regarding the feeding of their children under five years of age with overweight or obesity. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study was conducted between January and May 2023 in three facilities of the Moquegua Health Network, in southern Peru, with extreme poverty rates between 2.3% and 3.6%. The sample was intentional, consisting of 24 mothers who met the inclusion criteria, selected by saturation. The in-depth interview technique was used, along with a semi-structured guide as the instrument, containing seven guiding questions and thematic categorical data analysis. Results: Two categories emerged from the mothers’ discourses: 1) Identifying the child with overweight or obesity, with subcategories a) Meaning of overweight or obesity for the mother and b) Considering habits as the basis triggering overweight or obesity; and 2) Caring for the child facing overweight or obesity, with subcategories a) changing lifestyle and b) learning about the consequences of overweight or obesity. Conclusions: The mothers perceived that their children did not suffer from overweight or obesity, and that changing their eating habits was difficult, despite having some knowledge about these diseases and recognizing obesogenic behaviors.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos