Lifestyle Behaviors of Parents of Children in Pediatric Weight Management: Are They Meeting Recommendations?

Objective: Our objective was to examine the lifestyle behaviors of parents of children in pediatric weight management. Methods: Parents were recruited upon presentation of their children (body mass index [BMI] ≥85th percentile) to a pediatric weight management clinic. Parents’ demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle habit data were collected by self-report. Parents were grouped into weight status categories based on their BMIs; lifestyle data were compared across BMI categories and to national recommendations. Results: Parents (n = 266; 84% women; BMI, mean ± SD, 31.8 ± 7.2 kg/m2) were predominantly overweight/obese (82%), and most did not meet dietary recommendations (71%). Healthy-weight parents reported more daily steps versus parents who were overweight/obese (all P < .05). Most parents (~60%) met guidelines for physical activity, sedentary activity, and sleep. Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity combined with suboptimal dietary behaviors highlight the need to address both children’s and parents’ lifestyle habits in pediatric weight management.