eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Physical Activity Research 2574-4437 2021-08-30 6 2 93 100 10.12691/jpar-6-2-4 JPAR2021624 article Konstantinos D. Tambalis dp425603@hua.gr 1 2 Labros S. Sidossis 2 3 Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece The aim was to investigate the association between parental education level and physical activity (PA) in pregnancy with offspring¡¯s physical fitness (PF) and obesity status in childhood considered several covariates. Population-based data were obtained from a national database that included anthropometric and PF (cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, and body strength) data of almost all Greek children 8 to 9 years. ¦¡ random sample of 5,125 dyads of mothers-children was evaluated. Telephone interviews were carried out with the use of a standardized questionnaire for the collection of maternal lifestyle factors. Children whose mothers had secondary/tertiary educational levels had higher odds of overweight/obesity by 30% in boys and 44% in girls and increased odds for low performances in CRF and upper body explosive strength tests, in boys (OR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.24-1.43 and OR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.07-1.72, respectively) and girls (OR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.15-2.27 and OR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.23-2.25, respectively) than their peers with mothers of basic educational level. Maternal PA levels in pregnancy did not found to significantly associate either to child¡¯s obesity status neither to PF. Considerable variation in BMI and PF status in association with maternal education has been demonstrated, but no association was found for PA in pregnancy. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jpar/6/2/4/jpar-6-2-4.pdf physical activity education pregnancy physical fitness childhood