The increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is a serious problem around the world. Low physical activity and poor nutritional behaviours increase the risk of excessive body weight. This condition predisposes to the development of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, as a challenge to healthcare through increased the costs of treatment. Nutritional behaviours presented during childhood are reflected in health in adulthood. The development of nutritional behaviours in children is influenced by many factors, including the family, as the closest surrounding of the child and the media, which today are more and more important in the life of every human being. The following article presents the role of the family and the media in the process of forming these behaviours.

Key words: nutritional behaviours, eating habits, dietary choices, children.