When parents spend a lot of time sitting, their children are likely to adopt similar habits. However, if adults lead an active lifestyle, their kids are less likely to mimic sedentary behavior. This conclusion was reached by researchers from São Paulo State University (UNESP, Brazil), who emphasized the importance of parental example in shaping healthy habits in children.

The Impact of a Sedentary Lifestyle

The consequences of inactivity are well known: obesity, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. This raises the question: if parents are not very active, do their children become the same?

Study: How Parental Activity Affects Children

The study involved 182 children aged 6 to 17 and their parents (161 mothers and 136 fathers). To objectively assess physical activity and time spent sitting, participants wore accelerometers on their hips for a week. Parents were classified as "physically active" if they engaged in moderate or vigorous physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week. Those who did not meet this minimum were considered "insufficiently active."

Statistical analysis was used to determine whether parents’ sedentary habits were linked to similar behavior in their children, taking into account age, gender, socioeconomic status, and the child’s own activity level.

Main Findings

On average, children, mothers, and fathers spent about 8–9 hours a day sitting. There was a strong correlation between mothers and children in terms of sedentary time, but if mothers were physically active, this link disappeared. For fathers, the connection with their children was moderate but still significant; however, among active fathers, this dependence was not observed.

Thus, children tend to adopt sedentary habits from their parents only if the parents themselves lead an inactive lifestyle. If adults are active, children do not copy their sedentary behavior.

The Importance of Parental Example

According to lead author Diego Christofaro, parents’ habits can directly influence their children’s health. While many factors contribute to the development of sedentary habits—such as lack of access, time, or places for physical activity—the study highlights the importance of family role models. These findings may be useful for developing public programs and campaigns aimed at promoting active lifestyles within families.

Study Limitations

The study was cross-sectional, meaning it looked at only one point in time and cannot prove cause and effect. Additionally, families participated voluntarily, which may not reflect the general population, and results obtained in Brazil may differ in other cultural and social contexts. The lack of randomization also limits the ability to generalize the findings.

Practical Conclusions

Despite its limitations, the study shows that children are more likely to develop sedentary habits if their parents are also inactive. Active parents, on the other hand, help protect their children from a sedentary lifestyle. Following physical activity recommendations can help break the “like parent, like child” cycle. Encouraging parents to be more active is an effective strategy to reduce sedentary behavior among children and adolescents.