Strict Parenting Is Likely To Make Your Child Overweight
Strict Parenting Is Likely To Make Your Child Overweight
PA/The Huffington Post UK
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Frequent watchers of Supernanny and Wife Swap may come to the conclusion that bringing your kids up with a firm hand will prevent them from turning into nightmares, but scientists reveal that being too strict can be detrimental.
Researchers found that one of the key things - apart from presumably your kids leaving home at the first opportunity - is that it is likely to make your child obese.
Scientists studied the effects of a rigid parenting style strong on rules and light on affection and dialogue. Households where the attitude that "children should be seen and not heard" still prevailed were more likely to generate overweight youngsters.
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The Canadian researchers looked at a population of 37,577 children aged 11 and younger, comparing those with very different kinds of parents.
One parent group set boundaries, but were generally affectionate and happy to discuss behaviour with their children. The other imposed strict rules but showed little affection and was unwilling to negotiate.
Story continues below the slideshow:
Why Are Kids Obese?
Genes(01 of15)
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The issue: As the "No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy" report notes, there are more than 50 different genes that have been found to be associated with obesity, and likely more that haven't yet been uncovered. Some of these include genes that contribute to people feeling hungry, even when they're not.The potential solution: For some genes, breastfeeding has been found to help stave off these effects. A Harvard study also found that exercise can be another preventative measure. (credit:Shutterstock)
Physiology(02 of15)
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The issue: Thanks to the way evolution works, our bodies tend to crave high-calorie foods over other types to ensure we have enough to sustain our energy — even when there's plenty of options around us. The potential solution: The answer could start in utero — correlations have been found between women eating high calorie foods while pregnant and children growing up with weight issues. (credit:Shutterstock)
Sleep(03 of15)
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The issue: Just like for adults, getting enough sleep in childhood is closely linked to weight gain, and according to Time, children have been getting anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes less sleep in the past decade.The potential solution: Ensure children are getting the sleep they need, according to their age. For newborns (0-2 months), that's 12-18 hours; infants (3-11 months) 14-15 hours; toddlers (1-3 years), 12-14 hours; preschoolers (3-5 years) 11-13 hours; school-aged children (5-10 years) 10-11 hours; and adolescents (10-17 years) 8.5-9.25 hours. (credit:Shutterstock)
Mental Health(04 of15)
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The issue: While research is still being conducted on the relationship between weight and mental health, some links have been made with medication and weight gain, as well as a lack of self-esteem and less physical activity.The potential solution: Definitive research is still needed, but there's a potential for children falling into a vicious cycle of, for example, depression and not eating properly or exercising regularly. Incorporating physical activity can help reduce stress as well as potential for mental illness, while medical professionals can help advise on alternatives to medications that cause weight gain. (credit:Shutterstock)
Time Crunch For Cooking(05 of15)
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The issue: Parents point to a lack of time to prepare healthy meals, and are serving more fast food and processed food to their kids.The potential solution: Ensuring family meals are a regular occurrence, where both kids and parents pitch in with healthy menu ideas and preparing the food. This helps ensure everyone knows what ingredients are going into their bodies. (credit:Shutterstock)
Cost Of Groceries(06 of15)
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The issue: Fresh fruits and vegetables tend to cost more than fast food or prepared meals, and it can be difficult for families, especially those with less income, to buy healthy food all the time.The potential solution: One suggestion nutritionists often make is to buy frozen fruits and vegetables (not frozen meals) to cut down on costs and seasonality, making them an easy addition to most meals. Just watch out for seasonings, which can contain lots of sodium. (credit:Shutterstock)
Access To Fresh Food(07 of15)
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The issue: For smaller towns and communities, fresh food isn't available all year round, but fast food is plentiful.The potential solution: These so-called "food deserts" are an issue across the continent, but some potential innovative solutions have been cropping up, like mobile markets and fresh food in reclaimed regions like shipping containers, as CBC reported. (credit:Shutterstock)
Knowledge(08 of15)
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The issue: We might have a ton of information about nutrition at our fingertips, but not a lot of it is sinking in. According to the Panel, parents report not knowing how many calories their kids need each day, or what nutritional information on foods actually means.The potential solution: Reading articles about deciphering nutrition labels is always helpful, but giving kids a holistic education in school on their daily needs, and which foods will actually deliver them in a healthy manner, could also change the tide. (credit:Shutterstock)
Changes In Kids' Activities(09 of15)
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The issue: There's no question kids are more attached to electronics than ever before (as we all are), and it's impacting how much they are moving around. As the Panel reports, kids now spend 62 per cent of their waking hours sedentary.The potential solution: The CDC recommends children get at least one hour of physical activity each day, so parents need to make an effort to ensure that's happening with their children, whether it's walking to and from school, playing in the backyard or engaging in extracurricular activities. (credit:Shutterstock)
No Time To Walk(10 of15)
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The issue: Along the same lines of the issues with physical activity, the busier schedules get, the more likely kids are to get around by car and less by their own physical effort, whether that means walking, biking or even being pushed in a stroller.The potential solution: Planning enough time to allow children to walk to and from activities and school, and building that into the daily schedule. Stopping the reliance on the car will be good for the wallet, the earth and the body! (credit:Shutterstock)
Cost Of Activities(11 of15)
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The issue: For kids who want to get involved in sports or extracurricular activities, this can mean a significant financial investment — and often for parents who can't afford it.The potential solution: Looking into secondhand equipment or even scholarships for sports is an option, as are lower-cost leagues or sports that require fewer pieces of equipment, such as track and field. (credit:Shutterstock)
Changing Neighbourhoods(12 of15)
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The issue: Along with busy schedules that compel parents to drive are neighbourhoods that do the same thing, thanks to a lack of sidewalks — or other areas that don't allow for outdoor playing, as when ball hockey is banned on streets. The potential solution: Finding open spaces in your neighbourhood for kids to play together, whether it's on playgrounds or even someone's big front yard. Parents can also band together to talk to town officials about restrictions in order to find a way to get kids moving. (credit:Shutterstock)
Safety Concerns(13 of15)
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The issue: A combination of potential dangers and parents who are possibly more nervous than those in generations past can make for situations where children aren't allowed to go outside and play, keeping them from their healthy physical activity.The potential solution: Talking to other neighbourhood parents about the issue can help create an organization that allows for kids to play safely together, possibly with a rotating chaperone. (credit:Shutterstock)
Food Marketing(14 of15)
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The issue: The massive prevalence of junk food advertising directed at children — according to the Panel, in one week, 2,315 food-related ads were shown on free channels in Ontario and Quebec, 257 of which aired when at least 20 per cent of the audience was targeted at 2-to-17 year olds. The potential solution: The Ontario government is currently taking into consideration the recommendation that junk food ads be banned from being shown to kids, though nothing has yet been set in place. (credit:Shutterstock)
Social Disparities(15 of15)
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The issue: This massive topic obviously affects everything from health to education to relationships. But when it comes to obesity, lower incomes mean fewer fresh foods, both in supermarkets and restaurants. It could also mean living in an area where such options aren't even available, and for immigrant families, not having access to (or enough time to prepare) traditional ingredients and meals.The potential solution: This issue encompasses almost every factor mentioned in the report, and each step forward from both a personal and governmental level can help alleviate the issues, if not completely correct them. (credit:Shutterstock)
Children of the authoritarian group had a 30% higher chance of being obese at age two to five, and a 37% higher chance at age six to 11.
Lead researcher Lisa Kakinami, from McGill University in Montreal, said: "Parents should at least be aware of their parenting style.
"If you're treating your child with a balance of affection and limits - these are the kids who are least likely to be obese."
The scientists compared parents' answers to a cross-sectional survey, then categorised parenting styles and matched them to children's body mass index (BMI).
BMI is a measurement that relates height and weight and is often used to define overweight and obesity thresholds.
Poverty was also associated with childhood obesity, but parenting affected the BMIs of children regardless of income level, the scientists found.
The findings were presented at an American Heart Association meeting in San Francisco, US.