title: Associations between perceived parental physical activity and aerobic fitness in schoolchildren.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parental behavior is an important correlate of child health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived parental physical activity (PA) and schoolchildren's aerobic fitness.
  
  
  METHODS
  English schoolchildren's (n = 4029, 54% boys, 10.0-15.9 yrs) fitness was assessed by 20 m shuttle run test and categorized using criterion-referenced standards. Parental PA was reported by the child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Boys and girls were more likely to be fit (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8; OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0; respectively) if at least 1 parent was perceived as active compared with when neither parents were. Girls were even more likely to be fit (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8) if both parents were active. Associations between parental PA and child fitness were generally stronger when parent and child were of the same gender, although girls with active fathers were more likely (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.7) to be fit compared with inactive fathers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Schoolchildren perceiving at least 1 parent as active are more likely to meet health-related fitness standards. Underlying mechanisms remain elusive, but same-gender associations suggest that social rather than genetic factors are of greater importance. Targeting parental PA or at least perceptions of parental PA should be given consideration in interventions aiming to improve child health.
authors: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Voss
authors: Gavin R H
authors: GR
authors: Sandercock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires