While much of the research in heart disease prevention has focused on relationships among cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, there is a growing recognition of the importance of various health behaviors, such as what people eat, how much they exercise, if they smoke, their habitual approach to life including Type A behavior. Many of these risk related behaviors are correlated with the various cardiovascular disease risks. This study determined differences in social influence patterns in regard to diet and exercise between obese and non-obese families, and the impact on the obesity, dietary and exercise habits, and risk factors of children beginning at three to four years of age until seven to eight years.