Setting rules to improve healthy behavior: The relationship between family rules and children's demographics, dietary and sedentary activities, and weight status

Introduction:Parents can be influential in helping their children to modify dietary and sedentary behaviors, which are major contributors to obesity and overall health. The use of family rules to facilitate behavioral change among children is an emerging area of research. This study examined the demographic profile of children with family rules; the relationship between family rules and six eating and screen time behaviors: fast food, soda, and fruit/vegetable consumption, television, computer, and video game use; and the association between family rules and children’s weight status.

Methods: Measures included self-reported behavioral data and professionally collected anthropomorphic data from 4^th-8^thgrade students at 16 schools (N=2,819) in Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests, cross-tabulations, and linear and binary regressions.

Results: Thirty-six percent of students had dietary rules and 22.3%-31.8% had rules for various screen time activities. The composition of students with specific rules varied, but in general, younger, female, white, and low SES students were more likely to have rules than their counterparts. Family rules were associated with healthier outcomes for all six behaviors (ps<.001), even after controlling for demographics. However, family rules were not associated with children’s weight status.

Discussion: Family rules may be an underutilized strategy to promote healthier eating habits and decrease sedentary behavior. While a direct link between family rules and weight status was not found, family rules may serve as an intermediary mechanism to curb childhood obesity. Recommended strategies for encouraging family rules and areas for future research will be discussed.