Biased Study Shows Obese Latinas, Children Underestimate Weight

A new study shows that mothers who are obese, as well as their children, underestimate their weight. Most of those who participated in the Columbia University study were Latinos and they were judged according to the BMI — which has been shown to be based on older white adults and thus discriminate against Latinos, as well as other ethnic groups.

The study presented at the American Heart Association conference looks to be another one of those self-serving “scientific” studies that sets out with an idea, then works to prove the idea is right, granted we all know there are diabetes/obesity-related problems among Latinos, too. Here’s an excerpt:

The study included 222 mostly Latino mothers and children who were recruited at a children’s health clinic in an urban setting. The research team interviewed the participants about their medical history and social background, and also measured their height, weight, and body mass index.

Just under two-thirds of the mothers were overweight or obese, as were nearly 40% of the children, who ranged in age from 7 to 13. The vast majority of the overweight people weighed more than they thought they did — and the heavier they were, the more likely they were to underestimate their weight.

Eighty-two percent of the obese women underestimated their weight, compared with 43% of overweight and 13% of normal-weight women. Likewise, 86% of overweight or obese children failed to correctly estimate their weight, compared with just 15% of normal-weight children.

I’m wondering whether there was any stipulation for the fact that these “urban setting” families may not have scales at home, and so therefore, may not know how to estimate their weight. There are all kinds of assumptions going into a study like this that, quite honestly, give the researchers exactly the results they’re looking for. In any case, there it is.

Follow Sara Inés Calderón on Twitter @SaraChicaD