Parenting Style May Dictate Childhood Weight

Category: Children's Health , Diet and Nutrition

Our relationship with food begins to grow from the moment we are born. Evidence that nature and nuture work together to decide our health status and long term weight is prevalent in today's research society. Yet a new study published in the June issue of Pediatrics stated parenting style may shape a child's weight and relationship with food more than previously thought. A child raised by disciplinarian parents may be at an increased risk for obesity based on the results.

There are four main parenting styles. Disciplinarian, or authoritarian parents are strict, set rules, and enforce them to the highest degree. Then there are the authoritative parents whom set high standards but also allow room for the child to assert their individuality within bounds. Permissive parents are the type who give their children all the information for or against a certain choice then let them make the decision and suffer the consequences. Finally the last parenting type is the neglectful parent who fails to have any relationship with the child.

The study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics covered 872 children who were enrolled at birth and followed through first grade. Physical measurements and parenting styles were taken into account over the study period. Maternal assumptions and guidelines were used to determine parenting style.

Authoritarian or disciplinarian parents were most likely to have children who were overweight or obese. Where authoritative parenting style had the least risk for childhood obesity. Both neglectful and permissive parenting styles posed an equal risk, less than disciplinarian but more so than authoritative.

The authors wanted to question why certain parenting styles may affect childhood weight. Most point to the fact that the differernt parenting styles have varying degrees of emotional connectedness and value in the parent child relationship.

Disciplinarian parents have strict guidelines and often do not allow lines to be crossed based on emotional concerns. Where authoritative parents will set goals and ideals, but allow for individual expression and independence to the degree that it is encouraged.

Children who become overweight at a young age may have an emotiona relationship with food, turning to eating as a way to cope with stress, or to fill a void when parent/child relationships are lacking. In some cases, such as in permissive or neglectful parenting the child may not have any boundaries concerning diet and are able to eat what ever is desired, even if that means sugar and fast food all the time.

At any rate, as parents we should explore the effect our parenting style has on the eating habits of our children. We may be more to blame than poor diet and lack of exercise.

Reference:
1. Kyung ER et al. "Parenting styles and overweight status in first grade." Pediatrics, Vol. 117 No. 6, pp. 2047-2054.

Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on November 6, 2013 10:00 AM