A total of 720 questionnaires were

A total of 720 questionnaires were distributed (120 to primary caregivers of overweight children and 600 to primary caregivers of normal weight children). One—hundred and two questionnaires (85%) were returned from primary caregivers of overweight preschoolers, while 519 (86.5%) were returned from primary caregivers of normal weight preschoolers. Six (1%) of the questionnaires returned from the normal weight children were excluded because, after a second examination of their height and weight, the children were found to be underweight. Therefore, data from 513 - questionnaires (85.5%) from mothers of normal weight children were analyzed. Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics (i.e. frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) were used to assess the characteristics of the study variables. Potential risk factors from overweight children were compared, using Fisher’s exact test (p < .O5), with those of normal weight children. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and examine the predictive effect of each factor classified in host, agent and environment characteristics on the