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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Parent-Child association in body weight status
Tracey Bushnik1, Didier Garriguet1, Rachel Colley1
1Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Insights
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.
Background:
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults has risen in Canada. Studies suggest that parent obesity is a risk factor for overweight and obesity in children. This analysis examines associations between biological parent and child body mass index (BMI) in a nationally representative sample of Canadian children.
Data And Methods:
The analysis is based on data collected for 1,563 children aged 6 to 10 in the first three cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2007 to 2013). BMI was calculated using measured height and weight. Pearson correlation, logistic, and linear regression analyses examined associations between biological parent and child BMI and obesity status, controlling for other risk factors.
Results:
Biological parent and child BMI were correlated. When risk factors were taken into account, a child's average BMI increased as their parent's BMI increased. Parent BMI explained 2% of the variance in boys' BMI and 12% of the variance in girls' BMI. Boys and girls with a biological parent who was obese were at increased risk of being overweight or obese. Girls were also at increased risk of being overweight or obese if a biological parent was overweight.
Interpretation:
Children's body weight status is associated with that of at least one of their biological parents. Having an obese parent increases the risk of overweight or obesity among children in Canada.
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