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The Importance of Parental Beliefs and Support for Physical Activity and Body Weights of Children: A Population-based Analysis

  • Quantitative Research
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Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether parental beliefs and support for physical activity (PA) are associated with normal-weight and overweight children’s self-reported PA and body weight using a population-based approach.

Methods

We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from 6,585 students and their parents in Alberta, Canada, collected in 2008 and 2010. Parental beliefs and support were collected through questions on “care about staying fit”, “encourage PA” and “engage in PA with their child”. Children’s PA was self-reported. Body mass index was calculated from measured height and weight. We applied random effects models to assess: 1) the association of parental beliefs and support with children’s PA; 2) differences in the associations for normal-weight and overweight children; 3) the association of parental beliefs and support with overweight.

Results

Parental care, encouragement, and engagement in PA were independently and positively associated with PA among both normal-weight and overweight children. Relative to children whose parents encouraged them “quite a lot”, those whose parents encouraged them “very much” were 22% less likely to be overweight (OR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.89).

Conclusion

Health promotion strategies that target parents to encourage and engage in PA with their children may increase activity levels and reduce overweight among children.

Résumé

Objectif

Déterminer, selon une approche populationnelle, si les croyances et l’appui parentaux à l’égard de l’activité physique (AP) sont associés à l’AP et au poids autodéclarés d’enfants de poids normal et en surpoids.

Méthode

Nous avons analysé les données d’une enquête transversale menée auprès de 6 585 élèves et de leurs parents en Alberta (Canada) en 2008 et en 2010. Les croyances et l’appui des parents ont été obtenus à l’aide de questions sur leur «volonté de rester en forme», leur «encouragement de l’AP» et leur «pratique de l’AP avec leur enfant». L’AP des enfants était autodéclarée. L’indice de masse corporelle a été calculé à partir de la taille et du poids mesurés. Nous avons appliqué des modèles à effets aléatoires pour évaluer: 1) l’association entre les croyances et l’appui parentaux et l’AP des enfants; 2) les différences, dans les associations établies, entre les enfants de poids normal et en surpoids; 3) l’association entre les croyances et l’appui parentaux et le surpoids.

Résultats

Les soins, les encouragements et la participation des parents à l’AP étaient indépendamment et positivement associés à l’AP, tant chez les enfants de poids normal que chez les enfants en surpoids. Comparativement aux enfants dont les parents les encourageaient «pas mal», ceux dont les parents les encourageaient «beaucoup» étaient 22 % moins susceptibles d’être en surpoids (RC=0,78, IC de 95 %: 0,68-0,89).

Conclusion

Les stratégies de promotion de la santé qui amènent les parents à encourager l’AP et à la pratiquer avec leurs enfants pourraient accroître les niveaux d’activité et réduire le surpoids chez les enfants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Kerry A. Vander Ploeg, Katerina Maximova PhD & Paul J. Veugelers PhD

  2. Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Stefan Kuhle MD, PhD & Aline Simen-Kapeu MD, PhD

  3. Population Health Intervention Research Unit, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-50 University Terrace, 8303 112 Street, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2T4, Canada

    Paul J. Veugelers PhD

Authors
  1. Kerry A. Vander Ploeg
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  2. Katerina Maximova PhD
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  3. Stefan Kuhle MD, PhD
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  4. Aline Simen-Kapeu MD, PhD
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  5. Paul J. Veugelers PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul J. Veugelers PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: We thank all grade 5 students, parents and schools for their participation, the evaluation assistants for the execution of the data collection, and Connie Lu for data management and validation. The research was funded through a Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Health Scholarship to Dr. Paul Veugelers.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Ploeg, K.A.V., Maximova, K., Kuhle, S. et al. The Importance of Parental Beliefs and Support for Physical Activity and Body Weights of Children: A Population-based Analysis. Can J Public Health 103, e277–e281 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404235

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404235

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