PARENTAL SMOKING AND RISK-FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE IN 10-YEAR-OLD TO 12-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Objective: Smokers have multiple adverse health-related behaviors and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We examined whether healt h behaviors in parents who smoke may influence children's health behav iors. Study design: Cross-sectional data from 10- to 12-year-olds (n = 800) entering a trial of health promotion programs. Results: Smoking in children was independently associated with maternal (odds ratio 2.1 , confidence interval 1.2, 3.8) and paternal smoking (odds ratio 2.1, confidence interval 1.2, 3.7) and was less likely in girls (odds ratio 0.4, confidence interval 0.2, 0.6). Maternal smoking and paternal smo king were additive predictors in children of lower physical activity ( P = .0013 for mothers; P = .0476 for fathers) and more television watc hing (P = .0335 for mothers; P = .0241 for fathers). Children's fat in take was significantly greater if either parent smoked. Children's bod y mass index (P = .0183) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = .0009) were signi ficantly greater if mothers smoked. Conclusions: Poor health behaviors associated with smoking in parents, particularly mothers, are likely to influence children's long-term risk of hating lifestyle diseases. T he results may also explain some of the apparent effects attributed to passive smoking in families.