From Your Health Journal…..”Psych Central is quickly becoming one of my favorite web sites to plug – as they have some excellent, well-written, and educational articles. Recently, I found an article on their site called Mom’s Eating Habits Can Impact Obesity Risk For Preschoolers written by Dr. Rick Nauert. We have discussed so many times on this blog the importance of adults/parents in the lives (and their health) of children. When I speak to most children, and ask them who their number one role model is regarding eating healthy and exercise – the answer…..my parents. We know how children today have become very sedentary, eat quickly and poorly, less sleep, and less physical activity due to technology. We also know how many children suffer from obesity related illnesses including heart disease, cancer, weak joints, and type 2 diabetes. Today’s article suggest that we no longer worry about scarcity of food, but the abundance of it, where children are told to clear what is in their plate rather than eat until you feel full. So many times, children are even given adult size portions to eat, not suitable for their size. So, change is needed. Please visit the Psych Central web site (link provided below) to read the complete article, and many other wonderful articles.”
From the article…..
New research suggests role modeling is a significant factor in a preschooler’s risk for obesity.
While sugary drinks, lack of exercise and genetics are popular villains for the growing number of overweight American children, researchers from Washington State University show a mom’s eating habits and behavior at the dinner table can influence her preschooler’s obesity risk.
Halley Morrison and Tom Power, chair of the WSU Department of Human Development analyzed surveys of 222 low-income African-American and Latino Head Start preschoolers and caregivers in a U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Children’s Nutrition Research Center study.
The findings are published in the journal Appetite.
“The problem is no longer food scarcity, but too much food,” Morrison said. “It doesn’t cost families extra to change their behavior.”
Morrison found that moms who eat when they are already full and also show a high level of control when feeding their kids — for example, by pushing children to finish what’s on their plate or withholding food until the next meal — tend to produce picky eaters.
Meanwhile, 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.
“Like mother, like child,” Morrison said. “This is especially true when kids are so young their environment is primarily based on what their parents are doing.” Nearly 17 percent of U.S. children between ages 2 and 19 are obese.
While past research has focused mainly on middle-class European-American families, Morrison said the demographic focus on low-income families made this particular study unique. Obesity rates among preschoolers are highest in African-American and Latino populations: 21 and 22 percent, respectively.
The results from the study suggest a family can alter eating behaviors to reduce obesity risk and associated health problems like high blood pressure, respiratory issues and sleep apnea.
To read the full article…..Click here