Table 1 Participants’ characteristics and chi-square results

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Underweight (less than 18.5)

62 (28.2)

17 (27.42)

45 (72.58)

13.2 (p = .004)

Normal (between 18.5 and 24.9)

129 (58.2)

68 (52.71)

61 (47.29)

Overweight (between 25 and 29.9)

20 (9.1)

8 (40.00)

12 (60.00)

Obese (more than 29.9)

9 (4.1)

4 (44.44)

5 (55.56)

Mother Education

Primary School

30(13.6)

18(18.6)

12(9.8)

8.35 (p = .080)

Secondary School

41(18.6)

17(17.5)

24(19.5)

High School

73(33.2)

24(24.7)

49(39.8)

Bachelors or above

62(28.2)

30(30.9)

32(26.0)

None

14(6.4)

8(8.2)

6(4.9)

Total

220(100)

97(100)

123(100)

Father Education

Primary School

20(9.1)

11(9)

9(7.3)

1.347 (p = .853)

Secondary School

40(18.2)

18(18.6)

22(17.9)

High School

72(32.7)

32(33)

40(32.5)

Bachelors or above

76(34.5)

31(32)

45(36.6)

None

12(5.5)

5(5.2)

7(5.7)

Total

220(100)

97(100)

123(100)

Interest in health

very little

10(4.5)

4(4.1)

6(4.9)

3.94(p = .415)

little

10(4.5)

5(5.2)

5(4.1)

average

68(30.9)

35(36.1)

33(26.8)

much

42(19.1)

20(20.6)

22(17.9)

very much

90(40.9)

33(34.0)

57(46.3)

Total

220(100)

97(100)

123(100)

Interest in weight control

Very little

31(14.1)

13(13.4)

18(14.6)

5.622 (p = .229)

Little

15(6.8)

7(7.2)

8(6.5)

Average

37(16.8)

11 (22.7)

26 (12.20)

Much

38(17.3)

18(18.6)

20(16.3)

very much

99(45)

37(38.1)

62(50.4)

Total

220(100)

97(100)

123(100)

Who do you usually eat with

Whole family

137(62.3)

56(57.7)

81(65.9)

10.45 (p = .015)

Some members of a family

43(19.5)

18(18.6)

25(20.3)

Alone

29(13.2)

13(13.4)

16(13)

friends

11(5.0)

10(10.3)

1(0.8)

Total

220(100)

97(100)

123(100)