In the fight against obesity the results of a new study must raise concerns, the study shows that parents either do not recognise there children are over weight or refuse to accept the fact

The report carried out by a team from the Derriford Hospital Plymouth, published in the British Medical Journal has produced these findings.

The team questioned the parents of 277 children and found that less than 25% of them recognised when their children were overweight.

The study also showed that parents of children that were obese, more than 33% of mothers and 50% of fathers thought their kids were at a correct weight.

Denial and desensitisation to excess weight seemed to be the main cause for the lack of parental concern, the team concluded.

The report comes at a time when child obesity rates are soaring and is a worry as without parental help it becomes far more difficult to educate children on dietary habits.

WHO figures recently issued in the age group 2 to 4 obesity has all but doubled in the last 10 years rising from 5% to over 9%, among the 6 to 15, age group obesity rates have more than trebled from 5% to 16% between in a similar period.

The study found parents were less likely to recognise overweight boys than girls, with only 27% of overweight or obese boys classed as at least "a little overweight" compared with 54% of overweight girls.

The link between overweight parents and overweight kids was also apparent with, 19% of the children, 52% of mothers and 72% of fathers were either overweight or obese.

Parents were also unaware of their own weight problems, 40% of overweight mothers and 45% of overweight fathers felt their own weight was correct.

A senior research nurse and report author said at the hospital's EarlyBird Research Centre, said acknowledging excess weight was "essential" to tackling the problem.

She also said the study, published on the British Medical Journal web site, showed obesity was a problem across all social groups.

The National Obesity Forum, say they are surprised by the findings as previous research had suggested parents were good a picking up on the problem.

The overriding point is that if parents do not identify that there is a problem, then children are less likely to get help, and it is almost impossible for the children to manage the problem on their own.

The recently published white paper should make people more aware of the dangers of obesity, the paper from the Department of Health has, proposed a wide range of measures to combat obesity, including a coding system for food and a ban on junk food TV advertising before 9pm.

The whole crux of the matter though revolves round educating both parents and children, as well as measures taken in schools.

The message sent out should remain constant too often the messages are conflicting. Quite recently the fashion industry was pilloried for using 'stick thin' models.