A new survey has revealed the importance for families to keep a healthy fitness regime as most parents do not recognise what is an ideal weight for their children.

According to journal Acta Paediatrica, more than three quarters of mothers and fathers thought their overweight child was a normal weight.

The study of more than 800 parents with 439 children also revealed that parents of overweight children weighed more themselves, but almost all (98% of the obese mothers and 96% of the obese fathers) were aware of their own condition.

Professor Pieter Sauer from the department of paediatrics at the University Medical Centre Groningen, which carried out the research, said: “It is vital that parents are aware of their children’s weight if we are to prevent them becoming obese in later life.

“Our findings point to the need for health education programmes that encourage parents to recognise what is a normal healthy weight for their children and work with health professionals to tackle any weight problems.”