The Influence of Parents' Lifestyle and Dietary Habit on Their Junior High School Children’s Obesity

Abstract

This study attempts to find a way that helps set up standards for programs that promote well-being of family members. So that it was investigated influence of parents’ lifestyle and dietary habit on their junior high schoolchildren. 450 Students in 7th through 9th grade in Won-Ju city were collected. Initially 450 questionnaires are distributed and 413 returned ones are used for the analysis. SPSS 12.0 for Windows is used for data analysis. Mean and standard deviation of the data are calculated to check parents and children’s physical characteristics. Pearson’s correlation analysis is adopted to get correlation of parents. The results are as follows: (1) In their physical characteristic, Parents’ and children’s BMI suggest significant positive correlations. (2) Parents’ and children’s physical activity propose significant positive correlations. In other words, children are more likely to get exercise when their parents exercise. (3) In the correlation between parents’ and children’s lifestyle, significant positive correlations are suggested in their work hours per week, work hours per day, sedentary lifestyle, the average sleep hours during weekdays, the average sleep hours during weekends. (4) In the correlation between parents’ and children’s dietary habit, significant positive correlations. In conclusion, well designed lifestyle, and dietary habit of parents seem to be vital factors to form those of their children, especially those in adolescent period.