Comparison of School Children and Their Parents' Physical Activity with Their Nutrition Status

Objective: This study was conducted to compare physical activity levels and dietary habits of school children according to parents' compliance with physical activity and adherence to Mediterranean diet.

Methods: This descriptively research was finished face to face with the candidates of in public schools 339 students (56.9% male) and parents. The study utilized several assessment tools to gather a comprehensive range of data. These tools included the Socio-Demographic Information Form, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), the Mediterranean Diet Quality assessment (KIDMED), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener Scale (MEDAS). Alongside these questionnaires, anthropometric measurements were conducted and subsequently categorized based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to age groups.

Results: 57.5% of the children and 48.1% of the parents are of normal weight. While 52.8% of children and 52.5% of parents had low physical activity, it was determined that more than half of both children and parents (54.6%-54.9%, respectively) had low compliance with Mediterranean diet adherence. Parental BMI score (R2= 0.057, p<0.05), IPAQ score (R2= 0.084, p<0.001) and MEDAS score (R2= 0.100, p<0.001), affect the children's weight status, PAQ-C score, and KIDMED according to multiple regression

Conclusion: The study found a positive relationship between parents' body mass index, physical activity status, Mediterranean diet, and children's weight status, physical activity and dietary compliance. These results further emphasize the connection between children's physical activity levels and parental nutrition approaches.