Interaction between Geographical Areas and Family Environment of Dietary Habits, Physical Activity, Nutritional Knowledge and Obesity of Adolescents

Alessio Pellegrino (), Samuele Bacci, Francesco Guido, Andrea Zoppi, Loira Toncelli, Laura Stefani, Maria Boddi, Alessandra Modesti and Pietro Amedeo Modesti
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Alessio Pellegrino: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Samuele Bacci: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Francesco Guido: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Andrea Zoppi: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Loira Toncelli: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Laura Stefani: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Maria Boddi: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Alessandra Modesti: Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Pietro Amedeo Modesti: Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: There are marked differences in the regional distribution of childhood obesity in Italy. This study sought to investigate the interaction between geographical areas and family environment of dietary habits, physical activity, nutritional knowledge and obesity of adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 426 school-aged children and 298 parents residing in Central Italy (Florence, Tuscany) and Southern Italy (Corigliano, Calabria), in 2021. Survey questionnaire investigated anthropometry, eating behavior, nutritional knowledge and physical activity. BMI was determined and compared with reference percentile charts for adolescents. Multivariate regression analyses showed that: (1) an adolescent’s BMI was directly influenced by their parents’ BMI independently of parental nutritional knowledge and dietary or physical activity habits; (2) parents transmitted eating or physical activity habits to their children; (3) the geographic region of residence is not in itself an independent determinant of children’s BMI. The clear message is that prevention of childhood obesity should consider family-based approaches. Parental obesity can be the point of convergence of the complex interactions between a parent’s and child’s habits and should be one of the most important factors to look for.

Keywords: family environment; obesity; physical activity; dietary habits; adolescents; nutritional knowledge; parental influence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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