Parental smoking and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in 10- to 12-year-old children.
OBJECTIVE
Smokers have multiple adverse health-related behaviors and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We examined whether health behaviors in parents who smoke may influence children's health behaviors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data from 10- to 12-year-olds (n = 800) entering a trial of health promotion programs.


RESULTS
Smoking in children was independently associated with maternal (odds ratio 2.1, confidence interval 1.2, 3.8) and paternal smoking (odds ratio 2.1, confidence interval 1.2, 3.7) and was less likely in girls (odds ratio 0.4, confidence interval 0.2, 0.6). Maternal smoking and paternal smoking were additive predictors in children of lower physical activity (P = .0013 for mothers; P = .0476 for fathers) and more television watching (P = .0335 for mothers; P = .0241 for fathers). Children's fat intake was significantly greater if either parent smoked. Children's body mass index (P = .0183) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = .0009) were significantly greater if mothers smoked.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor health behaviors associated with smoking in parents, particularly mothers, are likely to influence children's long-term risk of having lifestyle diseases. The results may also explain some of the apparent effects attributed to passive smoking in families.
University Department of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
V
V
Burke
M P
MP
Gracey
R A
RA
Milligan
C
C
Thompson
A C
AC
Taggart
L J
LJ
Beilin
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution