Dietary habits in children of parents with type 2 diabetes ‒ A cross-sectional parent-child analysis.

INTRODUCTION evidence suggests that lifestyle habits are largely acquired within the family, where parents serve as behavioral role models. The presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in parents not only reflects a genetic predisposition but also indicates the coexistence of environmental and behavioral factors that increase metabolic risk within the household Objective: to evaluate dietary patterns in children with parents diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to compare the dietary intake between parents and their children.

Methods

a cross-sectional, analytic, observational study was performed in a primary care unit, including a total of 182 individuals: 77 parents with T2D and 105 children. Dietary intake was assessed using the Mexican Food Equivalents System, macronutrient intake was calculated using a 24-hour dietary recall.

Results

no significant differences were observed in macronutrient intake. No participant met criteria for a healthy diet. Overall, 54.4 % were classified as having an unhealthy diet and 45.6 % as intermediate. Parents showed a higher proportion of unhealthy dietary patterns compared to children (67.5 % vs. 44.8 %, p = 0.002). Elevated consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and low physical activity levels were observed in both groups.

Conclusion

parents with T2D and their children exhibit predominantly inadequate dietary patterns. Although children showed slightly better dietary behavior than parents, diet quality remains poor in both groups. These findings highlight the necessity for family-based interventions targeting diet and lifestyle to reduce the intergenerational risk of metabolic diseases.