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

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.