Originally published August 30 2005
Parents may be big factor in childhood obesity, experts say
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
According to The Globe and Mail, parents may be, at least in part, responsible for obese children, Arizona State University researchers say, but not through genetics, because the children of parents who skip meals and spend lots of time in front of the television have a 30 percent higher chance of becoming obese.
Parents who skip meals and spend too much time in front of the TV may increasing the risk that their children will become obese later on in life, a new study suggests.
According to researchers at Arizona State University, children who grow up in families with bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are 33.3 per cent more likely to become obese as young adults.
Poor eating habits for the study's purposes included skipping breakfast and a lack of parental control over a child's diet.
"Our research suggests prevention must begin at home," study author Ashley Fenzl Crossman, a graduate teaching assistant at the university's sociology department, said.
The study also found that adolescents were more likely to become overweight if their parents were obese.
"Nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight, and 30 per cent are obese."
The research also found that high-self esteem had a positive impact on body weight and that children whose parents had received a higher level of education had a lower risk of being overweight or obese.
Household income, however, was not a significant factor.
Contrary to other reports, the study also found no evidence to suggest that children living with a single parent or with stepparents were any more likely to be overweight than those being raised by their two biological parents.
But the solution to young people's obesity woes may not be that difficult.
The study also found that children do not need to engage in heavy duty physical activity to prevent obesity.
"Adolescents who have less time to engage in sedentary activities because they are involved in other things -- including non-athletic activities like school clubs, marching bands, part-time jobs, volunteer work, church activities and household chores -- are less likely to become overweight," the study said.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml