Child and parent factors associated with childhood overweight

Background: Multiple factors are associated with childhood overweight. Purpose: This study examines the association among individual factors (child and parent eating habits and physical activity, child health related quality of life) and childhood overweight. Subjects: A sample of 71 parent-child dyads participated. Children are 5-13 years (mean =9.69, SD = 1.96). Most children are male (52%). Most are overweight (body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and gender; mean BMI = 27.7 kg/m2, SD = 5.90). Parents are 23-75 years (mean = 38.37, SD = 10.60). Most are overweight or obese (mean BMI = 33.23, SD = 8.76). Methods/Measures: Parents and children completed demographic and health behavior questionnaires and children were measured for body composition. Children completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Most parents completed questionnaires by self-report. Most children completed questionnaires by interviews. Results: Significant associations were identified for parents on: vegetable and fruit consumption (r = 0.50, p < .001) and BMI and fruit consumption (r = - 0.327, p = 0.039). Multiple significant associations were identified between child health behaviors and scores on the PedsQL: physical activity level was inversely associated with the emotional function ( r = - 0.854, p = 0.03 ) subscale and BMI was associated with PedsQL total score (r = 0.832, p = 0.040). Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that parents behaviors may influence child behaviors and that child health behaviors influence perceptions on generally health related quality of life.