When rigid rules lead to fat kids

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Published Mar 26, 2014

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London - Strict middle-class parents are more likely to have children who are obese than those who are firm but fair, claim researchers.

Those who are rigid with rules or fail to show affection have a greater chance of their offspring being obese. The risk rises by about a third for children up to 11 years old.

Researcher Lisa Kakinami, from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, said “parents should at least be aware of their parenting style”. She and her team followed 37 577 Canadian children from birth to 11 after comparing parents’ answers to a survey.

They classed generally affectionate parents who had discussions on behaviour and set healthy boundaries as authoritative. Those who were strict on limits without much dialogue or affection were deemed authoritarian.

The authoritarian group had a 30 percent higher chance of their children aged two to five being obese compared with the authoritative group – and a 37 percent higher chance for those aged six to 11 years.

Children in middle-class homes with authoritarian parents were particularly likely to be at risk, the study, presented to the American Heart Association, also found. - Daily Mail

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