End the Food Fight

Could your weight be causing a food fight at the table? New research published by the American Pediatric Association looked at the association between parent and adolescent weight status and parent feeding practices, such as engaging in food pressure or food restriction.

The researchers analyzed results from two 2010 studies of kids' food consumption. More than 2,100 teens, whose average age was 14, took part in the studies along with 3,252 parents. The study found that when both parents and adolescents were at a normal weight, parents were more likely to pressure their adolescents to eat more. When parents and kids were overweight or obese, parents were more likely to restrict food.

Research shows that both of these feeding practices, eating pressure and food restriction, may lead a child to become overweight or obese, or engage in unhealthy eating behaviors such as bingeing, purging or restricting.

Bottom Line: Experts recommend that parents provide their children a variety of healthy food options and allow them to decide the amount that they eat. Parents can lead by example to encourage their children to engage in healthy eating behaviors and physical activity.

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