Obesity Risk in Preschoolers Influenced by Moms

First Posted: Feb 09, 2013 02:34 PM EST
Close

It's no surprise that sugary drinks and exercise contribute to the growing number of overweight and obsess children. Yet new research from Washington State University shows that there's another factor involved. A mother's eating habits and behavior at the dinner table can vastly influence her preschooler's obesity risk.

The study, published in the journal Appetite, analyzed surveys of 222 low-income African-American and Latino Head Start preschoolers and caregivers. The team, which included Halley Morrison and Tom Power, found that the problem was no longer food scarcity, but rather too much food.

Morrison and Power found that moms who eat when they are already full and also show a high level control when feeding their kids (such as pushing children to finish what is on their plate), tend to produce picky eaters. They also found that moms who eat in response to their emotions or who are easily tempted by the sight, scent or taste of food had children with a strong desire to eat. Essentially, the children mimicked their parents' behaviors.

Currently, nearly 17 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, and obesity rates among preschoolers are highest in African-American and Latino populations, which are 21 and 22 percent respectively.

Fortunately, this study shows that change can happen. When mothers or parents curb their own food behaviors, their children will follow suite. These behavior changes can include dishing up smaller portions of food and then giving children only more if they ask, which helps keep a child from overeating. In addition, mothers who tend to eat based on their emotions or temptation should try to keep unhealthy food out of the cupboards. That way, the temptation isn't there.

"It's important for parents to be mindful of their eating practices and how they feed their children," said Morrison in a press release. "It will help their kids develop a healthy relationship with food that can then naturally carry over into future generations. 

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

©2017 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics