This study aimed to explore the disposition of diabetic parents' descendents in changing eating and physical activity patterns. It was based on the heritability concept and Prochaska's Transtheoretical Model. This is a descriptive-correlational study; participants included 30 parents, randomly selected, and 60 children. Results and conclusion: 68% of the children was classified as obese, 42% with insulin resistance, and 15% with carbohydrate intolerance. None of the risk factors was associated with the stages of change. The heritability factor was 1.37%; more people younger than 40 and women report decreasing in the consumption of fat food (Xi² = 6.04, p = .020; and 4.41, p = .040, respectively). These results suggest a high influence of environmental factors on the participants' unhealthy life styles.
health behavior; environment; heredity
