Strict Parenting=Chubbier Kids

Are you the kind of parent who regularly chides your kids about what they eat? A new study in the June issue of the journal “Pediatrics” suggests that parents who favor a strict parenting style may actually contribute to weight gain in their own children.

After observing four parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglecting) among 872 first graders, researchers identified a correlation between obesity in children and lack of flexibility in parents.

“Among the four parenting styles, authoritative parenting was associated with the highest risk of overweight among young children,” the study authors concluded. “Understanding the mechanisms through which parenting styles are associated with overweight risk may lead to the development of more comprehensive and better-targeted interventions.”