Abstract: Objective To assess the influence of parental over weight on the development of obesity in children.Methods A total of 9 325 children aged between 6-8 years were studied.Height and weight of children were measured and that of parents wer e self-reported.Children whose weight exceeded 120% of that expected for their height were defined to be obese.Results The prevalene of obesity in childr en was 12.3%,20.0% and 25.0% respectively when their fathers were normal,overweight and obese.The prevalence was 13.8%,26.5% and 30.0% repsectively when their mothers were normal,over weight and obese.The prevalence of obesity in children was 11.1% if neither parents was overweight,and this prevalence rose to 33.6% if both parents were overweight.The BMI of children was cor related markedly with maternal BMI(r=0.214)and also with paternal BMI(r=0.195).Conclusion Parental overweight was a predictor of childhood obesity.It was important and necessary to prevent obesity in children with one or two overweight parents.