FRI050 A Cross-sectional Study Of Parental Outdoor Play Preferences And Association With Child Overweight And Obesity

Disclosure: I. Gavryutina: None. R. Bochner: None. V. Chin: None. R. Bargman: None. Background: Childhood obesity is highly prevalent among certain populations of New York City (NYC). Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between parental attitudes about outdoor activities and playground utilization on child overweight and obesity. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and distributed among parents of 1-13 aged children at ambulatory pediatric clinics in Brooklyn, New York. Parents were asked about time spent outdoors and factors, that can affect it, such as outdoor temperature, winter season, precipitation, concerns about overall safety and COVID-19. Anthropometric data was collected on children and demographic data on both children and parents. Children were divided into 2 groups - those above and below 85% of BMI and associations between parental outdoor play preferences and beliefs with pediatric overweight and obesity were studied. Unadjusted and adjusted relationships between outdoor play preferences and child with BMI ≥85% were analyzed. Results: Of 104 children included in the study 57 were of normal weight and 47 were overweight or obese. The parents of children in both groups were mostly immigrants. There was no statistically significant difference in child age, sex, race, ethnicity and birth country between children with BMI <85% and with BMI ≥85% (P > 0.05, NS). Most parents of children with BMI <85% reported frequent playground utilization, considered longer hours to spend outside on weekdays, reported a larger total temperature range for outdoor playground utilization and a lower tolerable minimum temperature compared to parents of children with BMI ≥85%, p<0.05. Only having a parent born outside of the US remained a significant predictor of overweight and obesity in the final model. Conclusions: Parents of children with BMI<85% are more willing to spend time outdoors, regardless of weather, tolerate wider temperature ranges and lower temperature minimums, have less concern about wet weather and their children are housebound for shorter periods. Immigrant parents are protective against overweight. Concern must be paid to factors that affect outdoor activity in cold climates and mitigation strategies developed to improve children’s health. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023