title: Parents' obesity-related behavior and confidence to support behavioral change in their obese child: data from the STAR study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Successful childhood obesity interventions frequently focus on behavioral modification and involve parents or family members. Parental confidence in supporting behavior change may be an element of successful family-based prevention efforts. We aimed to determine whether parents' own obesity-related behaviors were related to their confidence in supporting their child's achievement of obesity-related behavioral goals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses of data collected at baseline of a randomized control trial testing a treatment intervention for obese children (n = 787) in primary care settings (n = 14). Five obesity-related behaviors (physical activity, screen time, sugar-sweetened beverage, sleep duration, fast food) were self-reported by parents for themselves and their child. Behaviors were dichotomized on the basis of achievement of behavioral goals. Five confidence questions asked how confident the parent was in helping their child achieve each goal. Logistic regression modeling high confidence was conducted with goal achievement and demographics as independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents achieving physical activity or sleep duration goals were significantly more likely to be highly confident in supporting their child's achievement of those goals (physical activity, odds ratio 1.76; 95% confidence interval 1.19-2.60; sleep, odds ratio 1.74; 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.79) independent of sociodemographic variables and child's current behavior. Parental achievements of TV watching and fast food goals were also associated with confidence, but significance was attenuated after child's behavior was included in models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents' own obesity-related behaviors are factors that may affect their confidence to support their child's behavior change. Providers seeking to prevent childhood obesity should address parent/family behaviors as part of their obesity prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Health Alliance, Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: lnarsenault@challiance.org.
authors.forename: Lisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Arsenault
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Health Alliance, Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Mass.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Mass; Obesity Prevention Program, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Elsie M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Taveras
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Health Alliance, Institute for Community Health, Cambridge, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Allegheny County Public Health Department, Pittsburgh, Pa.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hacker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D064427:Nutritive Sweeteners; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012890:Sleep; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D064427:Nutritive Sweeteners
keywords: children; cross-sectional survey; obesity; parent–child relations