Parental influences on weight-related health behaviors in western and eastern cultures.

BACKGROUND: Excessive bodyweight contributes to a myriad of risk factors for chronic diseases, and multiple reports have demonstrated that parents influence the development of their children's behaviors that contribute to bodyweight. However, studies that include considerations for cultural influences are limited, and methodology that considers direct reports from young adults and their parents across cultures does not exist. METHODS: A sample of young adults (N = 327) and their parents in the U.S. and in China were recruited and completed a series of questionnaires in two cycles (2010 and 2014). With correlation and multiple regression analyses, parents' characteristics, behaviors, and parental authority styles were examined and compared to weight-related health behaviors and bodyweight of their young-adult children. Additionally, similarities and differences of parental influences between the two cultures were explored. RESULTS: Parents' body mass indexes (BMIs) and dietary behaviors were positively associated with those of their young adult children in the mixed-culture sample (P < .001 for both). When controlling for gender, at high levels of authoritarian and permissive parental authority, the relationships between young adults' and their parents' BMIs were negative for U.S. participants and positive for Chinese participants (P < .05 for both). Further, at high levels of authoritarian parenting, the relationship between young adults' and their parents' dietary consumption behaviors was negative for U.S. participants and positive for Chinese participants (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that the development of life-long health behaviors that contribute to BMI are significantly influenced by parents' behaviors and parenting styles. Moreover, an interaction of parental characteristics and cultural norms is indicated.

Influence of a moderate exercise training on natural killer cytotoxicity and personality traits in cancer patients.

We have investigated the influence of exercise training on natural killer cells and psychological behaviour in cancer patients. 24 women with carcinomas of the breast performed a moderate training program two to three times a week for seven months. At the beginning, after five weeks and at the end of the study we analyzed the amount and the activity of natural killer cells (CD 56) under resting conditions. Personality traits were measured with the FPI-R questionnaire at the same time points. While the amount of natural killer cells did not change, their cytotoxic activity was increased at the end of the study. Furthermore, the discomfort decreased. After 5 weeks satisfaction of life was enhanced and at the end of the investigation we observed a strict connection of this improvement with the frequency of exercise. These results demonstrate a stimulating influence of moderate exercise training on the resting NK-cell activity even in cancer patients.