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New research from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) shows that immediate family members are the strongest role models for influencing children’s healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Nearly a third (31%) of children surveyed said that family members are their healthy eating role models, while almost a quarter (23%) of children report that family members are their role models for being active, second only to sports people (26%).

The research also reveals that the balance in role model influence shifts with age. While 37% of 7-10 year olds rate family as their role models for healthy eating, under a quarter (23%) of 14-16 year olds do the same.

Roy Ballam, managing director and head of education at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “We are able to see from the children’s point of view the influence that close family members and friends can have on their attitudes and behaviour in relation to food and exercise, as well as the positive impact that strategies for changing behaviour can have in their lives.”

Nearly a quarter (24%) of children said that they help with cooking at home all or most of the time, and 60% sometimes help with cooking.

The most popular choices for behaviour change strategies amongst all children surveyed are targets and rewards (both 29%).

The largest proportion (33%) of children in the youngest age group, 7-10 years, would choose to buddy-up, while the biggest groups of children in the 11-13 year and 14-16 year age groups would opt first for targets (32% and 30% respectively) and then rewards (30% and 31% respectively) as their preferred strategies.

The research was conducted as part of BNF Healthy Eating Week 2016 and surveyed a total of 14,399 children aged 7-16 years old.