Need another reason to work out? Your children are watching you

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820022

J Phys Act Health. 2012 Jun 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Associations Between Perceived Parental Physical Activity and Aerobic Fitness in Schoolchildren.

Voss C, Sandercock G RH.

Source

Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Parental behaviour 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 categorised 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%CI1.1-1.8; OR 1.5, 95%CI1.1-2.0; respectively) if at least one parent was perceived as active compared with when neither parents were. Girls were even more likely to be fit (OR 1.8, 95%CI1.2-2.8) 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 activefathers were more likely (OR 2.5, 95%CI1.7-3.7) to be fit compared with inactive fathers.

CONCLUSION:

Schoolchildren perceiving at least one 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.