When researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed more than 2,000 parents about their children’s health, they heard some good news. Despite the growing obesity problem, many of these parents could report that their sons and daughters, at least, were “about the right weight.”

The numbers, alas, told another story. The parents were also asked to provide information about the children’s height and weight  and many of the 6-to-11- year-olds turned out to be obese. Yet more than 40 percent of their parents appeared unaware of this.

Image Credit... Stuart Goldenberg

The findings grew out of the National Poll on Children’s Health by the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The researchers found that over all, 25 percent of the children whose parents were surveyed were overweight or obese.