Background:Overweight and obesity among children has increased, this is seen to be due to genetic causes in combination with environmental factors. Overweight and obesity is a contributing factor due to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and psychological stress of the individual.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the families' perceptions related to their child being overweight or obese. Furthermore, the aim has been to describe the articles included data collection method.

Method: Twelve pieces of scientific papers were used as a basis for a literature study with a descriptive design.

Main results:This literature study shows that families rarely perceive their child's proper weight. In most cases families underestimated child obesity because they considered them as normal weight. Difference between girls and boys was something that emerged, it turned out that the parents had a higher acceptance regarding overweight boys related to girls being overweight. Socioeconomic differences were also significant when one clearly saw a higher acceptance regarding obesity in parents with low income. The parents felt that in the preventive work with overweight children, it was important that the focus would be on the whole family and not just the overweight child. Articles data collection method consisted of interviews and questionnaires.

Conclusion: Families often underestimated their child's obesity. Parents felt that in the preventive work with overweight or obese children, it was important that the focus would be on the whole family and not just on the child. Knowledge of how families perceive their child's overweight and obesity are important to increase understanding of how prevention work should be improved and be made by health care professionals.