CHILDS HOME-ENVIRONMENT IN RELATION TO THE MOTHERS ADIPOSITY

OBJECTIVE: There are conflicting findings regarding the role of non-ge netic family factors on obesity in children, but specific characterist ics of the family environment that may influence childhood obesity hav e not been identified, The purpose of the present study was to explore the association between mother's adiposity and family environment fac tors that could influence the child's risk of obesity, primarily throu gh effects on eating and physical activity behaviors. DESIGN AND MEASU RES: Cross-sectional, correlational study, Adiposity was estimated by the sum of mothers' triceps and subscapular skinfolds, Family environm ent measures were assessed by direct observation and by structured int erviews with mothers. SUBJECTS: A sample of 347 mothers of preschool c hildren were assessed. RESULTS: Mother's adiposity was related to mari tal status, with married mothers having thicker skinfolds, Only two of 23 family environment variables were significantly correlated with mo ther's adiposity, and both of these variables were related to televisi on. The demographic and family environment variables accounted for onl y 4% of the variance in mothers' skinfolds. CONCLUSION: The present st udy identified few characteristics of the family environment that were related to mother's adiposity.