The influence of maternal nutritional behavior on the nutritional behavior of children with excess body weight

Introduction
Obesity is a chronic systemic metabolic disease, which is increasingly prevalent also in children. Obesity carries a risk of numerous complications. The factors that cause excessive weight gain in children are improper eating habits and maternal obesity. The role of mothers manifests mainly in influencing the food preferences of their children.
Aim of the study: To analyse the relationship between the selected eating habits of mothers and the eating habits of their children with excess body weight before and after dietary intervention.

Material and methods
The study group consisted of 68 overweight and obese children – patients of our department. The study used the author’s questionnaire for assessing eating habits. The eating habits were assessed in children and mothers.

Results
After dietary intervention reduction in mean BMI-SDS of 0.80 ±0.96 (p < 0.00001) was observed in children. Before dietary education, there was a significant relationship between mothers’ correct habits and children’s habits of, e.g., eating breakfast, cereal products drinking water, and consuming milk. Despite the dietary intervention, the influence of negative mothers’ habits on the habits of their children was still observed.

Conclusions
The influence of selected correct and incorrect mothers’ eating habits on shaping the eating habits of their children with excess body weight before and after dietary intervention was demonstrated. Before and after dietary intervention, this concerned, e.g., the number of eaten meals and the frequency of consuming sweets and fast food. No relationship was found between mother and child in the frequency of consumption of vegetables.