Investigating the relationship between the lifestyle of parents and obese children and its comparison in single and multi-child families in primary schools of Mashhad City

Childhood obesity is associated with an increase in childhood morbidity, so that outpatient visits, hospitalization repetitions and the need for treatment in obese children are higher than non-obese children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parents' lifestyle and childhood obesity and its comparison in single and multi-child families.

This study was a descriptive-correlation on 400 primary school students in Mashhad City in a multi-stage cluster sampling method based on the purpose. A questionnaire consisting of three sections of demographic, researcher-made LSQ lifestyle, and a Dianna bavmerind parenting method was used.

There was a significant relationship between dimensions of lifestyle of families and obesity of children in some dimensions, so that significant negative correlation was found between physical health, sleep and rest, exercise and health, weight and nutrition control, disease prevention and environmental health, and BMI of children (p=0.001). In terms of psychological, mental, social health, drug avoidance, and prevention of events, no significant relationship was seen regarding the BMI of children. There was a significant difference between lifestyle dimensions in single child families and multiple children ones (p=0.001). There was no correlation between different styles of parenting and BMI in obese children (P>0.05).

Training parents about the causes of obesity in children and also monitoring children in their family, school, and environment can be effective in improving their lifestyle.