A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study of Parental Outdoor Play Preferences and Association With Child Overweight and Obesity.

This cross-sectional pilot study investigated the relationship between parental attitudes toward outdoor activities and childhood overweight and obesity among 104 children aged 1 to 13 in New York City. The study found that having a parent born outside the United States was the only significant predictor of a child having a normal weight, with immigrant parents showing a protective effect against overweight and obesity. Parents of children with normal weight tolerated a wider range of outdoor temperatures, spent more time outside on weekdays, and were less likely to avoid playgrounds in adverse weather compared to parents of children with overweight or obesity. The findings suggest that parental outdoor play preferences, influenced by cultural and immigration factors, may impact children's physical activity and weight status. Further research with larger samples is recommended to explore these associations and inform interventions promoting physical activity in diverse populations.