Attitudes of Preschool Children and Their Mothers towards People with Different Body Weight

The aim of this study was to examine the preferences of children 5 to 7 years of age towards the different physical appearance of boys and girls and to determine the relationship between the mother's body image and her attitudes towards obese people and the preferences of their children towards different physical appearances. A total of 100 pairs of mothers and children were examined. Mothers were questioned for negative attitudes towards obese people, the perception of their body image through silhouettes, and avoiding behaviours related to the body image with the children, we used silhouettes to examine preferences for different body weights (below average weight, average weight, or overweight). The results showed that children preferred the thinner male and female silhouettes (below-average weight and average weight) compared with the overweight ones. Boys prefered average weight male silhouette compared with the below-average ones, while for female silhouettes there was no difference in preference betweenthe below-average weight and average weight ones. Girls selected the below-average weight silhouette and the silhouette with average weight with equal frequency. It was also shown that the preference in children was not related to the negative attitudes towards obesity in their mothers, the perception of body image, and avoiding behaviours related to body image. The obtained results are discussed in the context of different theories of prejudice in children.