Influence of Family Health History and Parental Education on Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Levels in 5th Grade Children: A Secondary Data Analysis of the CARDIAC Project

Introduction: Childhood obesity and related cardiovascular risks reflect the interplay of genetic predispositions and socioeconomic adversity. Appalachia's poverty, limited health care, and educational gaps worsen family health risks, driving early cardio-metabolic problems in children, highlighting the need for effective interventions. Purpose: grade children in West Virginia (WV). Methods: The study used WV CARDIAC data from 2006-2009. Outcomes were BMI, SBP/DBP, and fasting lipids (HDL, LDL, TG). Predictors were parental education and family health history (heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking). Multiple linear regression was used, adjusting for covariates. Results: < 0.0001) exhibited lower HDL levels. Implications: These findings highlight the effects of familial factors in shaping pediatric cardiovascular risk and emphasize the need for culturally tailored, family-centered interventions to reduce health disparities.