At least half of parents with overweight children believe that their child's weight is normal, with some even worrying that their child will become underweight, a new European study has found.

Research carried out by Safefood last year found that at least half of Irish parents of overweight primary school children felt that their children's weight was ‘about right'.

This latest study by a Swedish researcher appears to back up this claim and confirms that this is a problem throughout Europe.

Susann Regber of the Sahlgrenska Academy looked at over 16,200 European children aged between two and nine. The parents of these children were asked about their child's weight and health and their estimates were then compared with the children's actual measurements.

The study found that at least 50% of parents with overweight children felt that their child's weight was normal. Furthermore, around 40% of parents with overweight or obese children were actually worried that their child could become too thin.

This was greater than the figure for parents whose children were actually underweight (33%).

Ms Regber pointed out that how a parent perceives their child's weight ‘is of major significance to being able to promote a healthy weight development'.

"Many parents simply do not see the increase in growth, and are dependent on objective information from, for instance, child welfare centers and school health care to act," she said.

Her research also found that parents feel there are many obstacles to maintaining healthy eating habits within their families, such as financial constraints, long working days and the increasing availability of unhealthy foods and drinks.

"But the parents also emphasised examples that promoted good eating habits, like children being served good, healthy food at daycare and in school," Ms Regber added.