Vol. 8, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Background: Obesity and overweight are defined as excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, representing weight ranges greater than those considered healthy for a given height. This study aimed to: (a) determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool-aged children, (b) assess primary health care physicians’ perceptions of children’s weight status, and (c) identify factors associated with doctors’ perceptions. 
Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted over four months (February to June 2012), involving 202 children aged 2-6 years, selected using systematic randomization from 14 primary health care centers in Baghdad (7 in Karkh and 7 in Resafa). Additionally, 26 doctors (18 males, 8 females) were randomly selected from a total of 52 doctors working in these centers. Data collection involved a questionnaire completed by doctors, alongside measurements of each child’s height and weight to calculate their BMI. Doctors classified children’s weight using a modified Likert scale, which was then compared to the calculated BMI. 
Results: the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the study group was 15.8% and 9.4%, respectively. The study found that 54% of doctors’ perceptions were accurate, while 39% were underestimations and 7% were overestimations. The most frequent misperceptions included underestimation of normal-weight (17.8%), overweight (11.4%), and obese children (5.4%). Underestimation was significantly more common than overestimation. 
Conclusion: Factors studied did not show a significant association with the accuracy of doctors’ perceptions. The study recommended raising healthcare providers’ awareness of childhood overweight and obesity, implementing training programs for primary care doctors to improve diagnostic accuracy, and encouraging doctors to play a greater role in family health education about the risks and prevention of childhood overweight and obesity.