Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-3-2013

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Parents play an instrumental role in modeling their children's health behaviors and exposing them to new foods, and engaging them in physical activities.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the association of parents' educational level on their nutritional and physical activity knowledge.

METHODS:

This is a cross-sectional study of 72 participants from a nutrition and wellness program targeting parents of African American preschoolers. Socio-demographic, child's nutritional and physical exercise habit survey and anthropometric data were collected from all participants at baseline.

RESULTS:

77% of the participants were grandmothers or mothers; the mean age was 44.8 and 13% of participants were college graduates. 66% were obese. The mean scores for nutrition and physical activity knowledge were 41 % and 58%, respectively. 89% of the participants reported that their children exercised at least once a week. 51% of the participants' children drink soda or sweetened beverages. Mothers' educational level was significantly associated with nutrition knowledge (p =.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Larger sample size and longer time evaluation are needed to assess the association and impact of maternal education on parents’ knowledge of physical activity and nutrition and their children's behavior.

Comments

Presented at: George Washington University Research Days 2013.

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