Association of parental body mass index (BMI) with child's health behaviors and child's BMI depend on child's age.

Parental BMI was associated with child's %BMIp95 and some child behaviors, and this association was stronger in older children; older children also exhibited less healthy behaviors. Age- and sex-specific interventions that focus on age-related decreases in healthy behaviors and parental strategies for promoting healthy behaviors among at-risk children are needed to address this epidemic of childhood obesity.