Parental health status in relation to the nutrition literacy level of their children: Results from an epidemiological study in 1728 Greek students

Aikaterini Kanellopoulou, Angeliki Katelari, Venetia Notara, George Antonogeorgos, Andrea Paola Rojas-Gil, Ekaterina N. Kornilaki, Rena I. Kosti, Areti Lagiou, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children's dietary behaviors seem tract into adulthood and as a result preventing strategies to establish healthy behaviors from early stages of life are needed. Nutrition knowledge is essential for behavioral change. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the status of parental health related to their children's nutrition literacy level through their perceptions mainly of healthy eating attitudes METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Greece among 1,728 schoolchildren aged 10-12 years old. The sample was collected in the school setting during the school years of 2014-2016. Children completed anonymously a self-administered questionnaire about their knowledge and perceptions of a healthy diet while their parents completed another suitable questionnaire about family health status. RESULTS: Paternal BMI status and hypertension were inversely associated with the level of nutrition literacy of their children by b=-0.043 (95%CI: (-0.082, -0.003; p=0.036) and by b=-0.600 (95%CI: -1.181, -0.019; p=0.043), respectively. Parental health status, specifically, paternal diabetes and maternal dyslipidemia were associated with children's higher level of nutrition literacy by b=0.729 (95%CI: 0.002, 1.456; p=0.049) and by b=0.730 (95%CI: 0.086, 1.374; p=0.026), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Parental health status partially affects, either negatively or positively, the level of nutrition literacy of their children. This impact depends on whether parents follow nutritional recommendations to improve their health.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)57-67
Number of pages11
JournalMediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

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