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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence that physical activity and nutritional behavior of parents have on physical activity, nutritional behavior and the body mass index of school-aged children. METHODOLOGY: Questionnaires were given to 146 children aged 6-12 years in the region of Volos that evaluated their eating and physical activity habits as well as their parent’s habits. Comparisons were also made between family members in relation to the body mass index of individuals. RESULTS: An important correlation was found between the body mass index (BMI) of children and parents. The father's body mass index seems to be related to a weak extent positively to the division of a child in the non obese or the overweight category (p = 0,209). For instance, as the father’s body mass index increases, so do increase the chances of a child being classified as obese. The same applies to the BMI of the mother, but the correlation was weaker (p = 0,179). The mother seems to affect a greater extent the eating habits of her child. For example, the extent to which a child eats late in the evening is moderately affected by how often his mother eats late in the evening (p = 0,410). Finally, with regard to the physical activity of the child, it appears to be heavily influenced by both his father's (p= 0,544) and mother's physical activity level (p= 0,529). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small number of samples, it is found that both eating habits and the body weight of children seem to be affected by their parent’s eating habits. It is also shown that the physical activity of the parents has a great impact on the physical exercise of their children.