Varanasi: As an increasing number of primary schoolchildren are exhibiting poor dietary habits, parents and schools must serve as positive role models for promoting healthy eating among kids, said new research conducted by Mahila Mahavidyalaya, BHU.The study attempted to identify the factors that influence the dietary habits of school children. It was conducted between Nov 2023 and June 2024, and the research was published in the April 2025 edition of BMC Public Health.The research team comprised Neha Rathi, Malaviya Post-Doctoral Fellow in the department of home science, Prof Mukta Singh, Prof Kalpna Gupta, MSc students Prarthana, Manisha and Anjali, and Prof Anthony Worsley of Deakin University, Australia. Neha Rathi said: “The study is one of the first qualitative inquiries exploring the perceptions of children, mothers and teachers regarding the determinants of primary school children’s food behaviours. The most prominent finding was several socio-ecological determinants influencing children’s food behaviours.”The researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with 19 school children, 19 mothers and 15 teachers in Varanasi. The study identified multiple levels of influence on children’s food behaviours. At the individual level, children’s taste preferences and basic nutritional knowledge played an important role in shaping their dietary choices. On the interpersonal front, family dynamics—particularly home food rules and the provision of food at home—emerged as strong influences.Peer pressure and friends’ eating behaviours were also noted to impact food preferences and decisions. The physical environment, including school food offerings and the accessibility and affordability of food items in the local market was another significant factor.At the societal level, media exposure–especially television and internet advertisements–was found to heavily influence children’s desires and requests for particular foods. They suggested training peers to serve as positive role models for healthy eating. Parents need to be provided with essential information and guidance on practicing positive and active social modelling of children’s dietary habits. School food policies should also be framed in consultation with all key stakeholders, including children, to maximise their effectiveness, she said.