Post by jordan on Jan 21, 2019 19:20:20 GMT
Limiting how much kids eat seems to increase the chances that some kids will become overweight, researchers say.
In a new study, the association between food restriction and kids being overweight was only seen in kids at high risk of becoming overweight. Researchers say that kids whose moms were overweight before getting pregnant were much more likely to be overweight themselves by age 7.
Researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia report the findings in the October issue of the journal Pediatrics.
"Our conclusion is that there is an association over time between restrictive feeding patterns and increased weight gain in children, but in our study, it was limited to children who are more vulnerable to becoming obese," researcher Myles S. Faith, PhD, tells WebMD.
The study included 57 families. Based on the mother's prepregnancy weight, children in the study were determined to be at high risk or low risk for becoming obese. Weight and height were recorded for all children at ages 3, 5, and 7.
Parents completed a questionnaire evaluating their attitudes about feeding their children. Researchers assessed whether parental feeding styles at age 5 predicted their children's weight two years later.
This finding reinforces the belief that genetic and environmental influences interact to determine body weight in early childhood, the researchers say.
"An implication of our findings is that childhood overweight and prevention programs may benefit from being tailored to family characteristics, such as a child's risk for overweight or current weight status, rather than using one set of guidelines for all families," the researchers wrote.
Nearly one in six children in the U.S. is overweight, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare that childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels. The AAP recently weighed in on the problem in a published statement that calls on parents to emphasize "healthful [food] choices rather than restrictive eating patterns."
Faith agrees, telling WebMD that instead of restricting foods, parents can positively influence their young children's eating habits by making sure healthy food choices, such as fruits and vegetable, are readily available. Bypassing the cookies and sugary sodas during your next trip to the grocery store and stocking up on apples, grapes, and other good-for-you foods that kids like is a good start.
www.webmd.com
In a new study, the association between food restriction and kids being overweight was only seen in kids at high risk of becoming overweight. Researchers say that kids whose moms were overweight before getting pregnant were much more likely to be overweight themselves by age 7.
Researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia report the findings in the October issue of the journal Pediatrics.
"Our conclusion is that there is an association over time between restrictive feeding patterns and increased weight gain in children, but in our study, it was limited to children who are more vulnerable to becoming obese," researcher Myles S. Faith, PhD, tells WebMD.
The study included 57 families. Based on the mother's prepregnancy weight, children in the study were determined to be at high risk or low risk for becoming obese. Weight and height were recorded for all children at ages 3, 5, and 7.
Parents completed a questionnaire evaluating their attitudes about feeding their children. Researchers assessed whether parental feeding styles at age 5 predicted their children's weight two years later.
This finding reinforces the belief that genetic and environmental influences interact to determine body weight in early childhood, the researchers say.
"An implication of our findings is that childhood overweight and prevention programs may benefit from being tailored to family characteristics, such as a child's risk for overweight or current weight status, rather than using one set of guidelines for all families," the researchers wrote.
Nearly one in six children in the U.S. is overweight, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare that childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels. The AAP recently weighed in on the problem in a published statement that calls on parents to emphasize "healthful [food] choices rather than restrictive eating patterns."
Faith agrees, telling WebMD that instead of restricting foods, parents can positively influence their young children's eating habits by making sure healthy food choices, such as fruits and vegetable, are readily available. Bypassing the cookies and sugary sodas during your next trip to the grocery store and stocking up on apples, grapes, and other good-for-you foods that kids like is a good start.
www.webmd.com
