Parents have big influence on kids’ physical activity

With New Year's resolutions upon us, new research from the University of Alberta offers encouragement for parents who want to achieve fitness for the whole family. Kerry Vander Ploeg, a PhD candidate with the School of Public Health , looked into whether parents' beliefs about and support for physical activity are associated with children's physical activity levels. Vander Ploeg and her U of A supervisor, Paul Veugelers , Canada Research Chair in Population Health, analyzed survey data from 6,585 students and their parents through the REAL Kids Alberta project. They found that parental care, encouragement and engagement in physical activity resulted in a decrease in the number of overweight children—and the more encouragement, the better. Children whose parents encouraged them "very much" were 22 per cent less likely to be overweight than those whose parents encouraged them "quite a lot." Other parental factors, such as engaging in activities with children and caring about their own physical activity, were independently and positively associated with physical activity, regardless of whether the children were of normal weight or overweight. "Parental encouragement on its own makes a difference in the amount of a child's physical activity, regardless of these other factors," Vander Ploeg said, noting that insufficient physical activity is one of the most significant risk factors for overweight and obesity. "It's reassuring that even small demonstrations of support, regardless of whether you are physically active yourself, have a positive effect on the health of your child." Vander Ploeg says the findings can help parents ensure their children lead healthy, active lives.