Abstract
Objectives. The practice of physical activity (PA) and correct food choices since pre-school age can help in the obesity prevention and other chronic disorders. In this process, mothers have an important role, but the relationship with their children’s lifestyle is still unclear in disadvantaged areas. The aim of this study is to explain the extent to which maternal food habits and PA level predict food-related aspects and PA practice in preschoolers from disadvantaged urban areas. Methods. It is a cross-sectional study. A total of 79 dyads of mothers and children were recruited from kindergartens. A questionnaire was compiled by mothers to collect data on: family socio-demographic aspects; mothers’ and children’s dietary intake frequencies, PA/sedentariness, weight and height; mothers’ perception on children’s food intake, children’s food literacy (FL) and Quotient of Gross Motor Development (QGMD). Results. The following associations were found out: mothers’ and children’s food habits (beta=0.66, p<0.001); mothers’ and children’s fruit/vegetables consumption (OR 16.2, 95% CI 4.68 - 59.77), and intake of the other items (sugar and carbonated drinks, confectioned sweet and savory snacks, ready meals, breakfast); mothers’ education or PA level and children’s FL (beta -0.25, p<0.05; beta 0.25, p<0.05, respectively); mothers’ PA or sedentariness and children’s QGMD (beta 0.26, p<0.05; -0.21, p<0.1, respectively); mothers’ BMI and food habits (beta -0.19, p<0.05) and children’s BMI (beta 0.04, p<0.05); education and food habits (beta -0.34, p<0.05). Mothers did not correctly perceived children’s BMI, PA practicing and food intake (p<0.05). Conclusions. To delineate the global path of the relationships between mothers’ and children’s lifestyles in disadvantaged urban areas can be currently useful to planning effective interventions aimed to help children and families in maintaining their healthy habits suddenly changed during COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
Parents influence their children’s lifestyle since the pre-school age and the monitoring of food choices [1], sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) practiced [2] is fundamental in the prevention and management of obesity and other chronic conditions later in life
The following associations were found out: mothers’ and children’s food habits; mothers’ and children’s fruit/vegetables consumption, and intake of the other items; mothers’ education or PA level and children’s food literacy (FL); mothers’ PA or sedentariness and children’s Quotient of Gross Motor Development (QGMD); mothers’ BMI and food habits and children’s BMI; education and food habits
To delineate the global path of the relationships between mothers’ and children’s lifestyles in disadvantaged urban areas can be currently useful to planning effective interventions aimed to help children and families in maintaining their healthy habits suddenly changed during COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
Parents influence their children’s lifestyle since the pre-school age and the monitoring of food choices [1], sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) practiced [2] is fundamental in the prevention and management of obesity and other chronic conditions later in life. A correlation exist between the quality of children’s diet and their parents’ food choices [3] and between parents’ and children’s PA [4]. Lifestyles and behaviors could be determined by the family socio-economic (SE) status. Healthy choices and correct lifestyles are related to “health literacy”, a concept referred to environmental, political and social aspects determining health [5]. Some data exist in the literature analyzing how parental lifestyle can determine preschoolers’ behaviors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the extent to
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