RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MOTHERS’ FOOD- AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY- RELATED HABITS AND LEVEL OF PRESCHOOLERS’ FOOD LITERACY AND MOTOR SKILLS IN DISADVANTAGED URBAN AREAS: THE TRAINING-TO-HEALTH PROJECT

Objectives. The practice of physical activity (PA) and correct food choices since pre-school age can help in the obesity prevention and other chronic disorders. In this process, mothers have an important role, but the relationship with their children’s lifestyle is still unclear in disadvantaged areas. The aim of this study is to explain the extent to which maternal food habits and PA level predict food-related aspects and PA practice in preschoolers from disadvantaged urban areas.

Methods. It is a cross-sectional study. A total of 79 dyads of mothers and children were recruited from kindergartens. A questionnaire was compiled by mothers to collect data on: family socio-demographic aspects; mothers’ and children’s dietary intake frequencies, PA/sedentariness, weight and height; mothers’ perception on children’s food intake, children’s food literacy (FL) and Quotient of Gross Motor Development (QGMD).

Results. The following associations were found out: mothers’ and children’s food habits (beta=0.66, p<0.001); mothers’ and children’s fruit/vegetables consumption (OR 16.2, 95% CI 4.68 - 59.77), and intake of the other items (sugar and carbonated drinks, confectioned sweet and savory snacks, ready meals, breakfast); mothers’ education or PA level and children’s FL (beta -0.25, p<0.05; beta 0.25, p<0.05, respectively); mothers’ PA or sedentariness and children’s QGMD (beta 0.26, p<0.05; -0.21, p<0.1, respectively); mothers’ BMI and food habits (beta -0.19, p<0.05) and children’s BMI (beta 0.04, p<0.05); education and food habits (beta -0.34, p<0.05). Mothers did not correctly perceived children’s BMI, PA practicing and food intake (p<0.05).

Conclusions. To delineate the global path of the relationships between mothers’ and children’s lifestyles in disadvantaged urban areas can be currently useful to planning effective interventions aimed to help children and families in maintaining their healthy habits suddenly changed during COVID-19 pandemic.