Activity and dietary habits of mothers and children: close ties.
OBJECTIVE
To examine associations between activity and dietary habits reported by mothers for themselves and their children aged 2 to 11 years.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, consecutive samples of parents at 13 primary care practices were surveyed on health behaviors. Survey questions were used to define 5 "healthy" habits: low-fat milk choice; low fast food use; low weekend screen time; low juice/sweet drinks intake; and high-frequency physical activity. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were applied.


RESULTS
Responses from a socioeconomically diverse group of 2115 mothers were analyzed. For each healthy behavior self-reported by the mother, the odds of the healthy behavior being reported for the child were significantly higher (range: odds ratio [OR] = 3.2 for high-frequency physical activity to OR = 19.7 for low-fat milk choice).


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers and children often have similar health habits. The impact of clinician counseling for children may be strengthened by promotion of healthy habits for their mothers.
Greenberg
Robert S
RS
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. rgreenberg@childrensmemorial.org
Ariza
Adolfo J
AJ
Binns
Helen J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires