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Parent-Child association in body weight status
Tracey Bushnik1, Didier Garriguet1, Rachel Colley1
1Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Health Reports
|June 22, 2017
Summary
Parental obesity is linked to increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity in Canada. A child's body mass index (BMI) correlates with their parent's BMI, highlighting a significant familial connection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in Canadian children and adults.
- Parental obesity identified as a potential risk factor for childhood obesity.
- Need to examine the association between parent and child body mass index (BMI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the association between biological parent and child body mass index (BMI).
- To investigate the relationship between parental weight status and childhood overweight/obesity in Canada.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 1,563 Canadian children aged 6-10 (Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007-2013).
- Calculated BMI using measured height and weight.
- Employed correlation, logistic, and linear regression analyses, controlling for risk factors.
Main Results:
- Significant correlation found between biological parent and child BMI.
- Child's average BMI increased with increasing parental BMI, after accounting for risk factors.
- Parental BMI explained 2% of variance in boys' BMI and 12% in girls' BMI.
- Obese biological parents increased children's risk of being overweight or obese.
- Overweight biological parents also increased girls' risk of being overweight or obese.
Conclusions:
- Children's weight status is significantly associated with their biological parents' weight status.
- Having an obese parent elevates the risk of overweight or obesity in Canadian children.
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