Research published in the medical journal Pediatrics shows changing the eating attitude of parents rather than children is vital for combating childhood obesity.
The two-year study involved overweight pre-pubescent children in groups with: • a parent-centred nutrition program where parents were encouraged to change the whole family’s food habits and set healthy eating goals for their family with the assistance of accredited practising dieticians; • a child-centred activity program where children developed their fundamental movement with the assistance of a physical education specialist; and • a combined program that incorporated both nutrition and activity programs with joint child and parental participation.
While participants in all three groups lost weight, the researchers found that parents must be actively engaged in changing the whole family’s diet to help reduce childhood obesity.
Read more at University of Newcastle