OBJECTIVE: Investigate the association of parental lifestyle with body composition of their adolescent offspring. METHODS: The study included 120 individuals: 40 male adolescents aged between 14 and 17 years and their parents (n=80). The adolescents were divided into two groups according to the percentage of body fat (%BF): low (%BF<11%) or high (%BF>20%). Body weight, stature and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured, and the Lohman equation was used to estimate %BF of the adolescents. The parents answered the FANTASTIC lifestyle questionnaire. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight among both parents of adolescents with high %BF was twice the prevalence observed among parents of adolescents with low %BF (42 and 25%; 75 and 15%, for mothers and fathers, respectively). The lifestyle of the parents of adolescents with low %BF was significantly better than the parents of adolescents with high %BF. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle of parents is associated with body composition of adolescent offspring with high and low %BF.
adiposity; adolescent; exercise; body composition; life style; nutritional status
