Parents’ behaviour influences child’s weight

Posted on August 28, 2018

If parents assist their children in managing their emotions and behavior, their children can apply those skills in many aspects in life, even in scenarios as simple as eating. Being able to control their emotions and behavior puts children in a good mood and lowers the probability of them bingeing on food. Obesity among children is common, the negative impacts it brings about include diabetes, breathing problems (eg. Asthma) and high blood pressure. Children who are obese are also more likely to remain obese as an adult.

Apart from parenting tactics, a child’s own ability to control their own emotions and behavior, plays a part in their weight. Children who are more capable of controlling their own emotions and behavior had higher BMIs with their parents helping them clean up in a gentle manner. It is essential for parents to consistently be there for their children and gently help them whenever needed. It is impossible for parents to always be nice and gentle, but whenever possible, being gentle and caring with their children inculcates good habits and compliance skills which can be used in several situations such as waiting for food or consuming a less desirable food. Learning to comply is crucial in a child’s growth.

Researchers hope to go in depth of finding the relationship between parent-child interactions together with a child’s ability to control their own emotions and behavior, and a child’s eating habits in addition to weight gain in teens.


Category(s):Child Development, Health Psychology, Parenting

Source material from Science Daily