The Role of Food Parenting Skills and the Home Food Environment in Children's Weight Gain and Obesity

S. Gerards*, S.P. Kremers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents an overview to provide readers with an update on the literature about the relation between parental influences (general parenting and food parenting practices) and children's weight-related outcomes. It first summarizes the evidence regarding the role of food parenting practices in shaping and maintaining children's nutritional and weight status. It then describes empirical evidence on the relation between general parenting and children's weight status. This evidence is less convincing, possibly because general parenting has a different, more distal role in influencing child behavior than parenting practices. General parenting may moderate the impact of food parenting practices on children's nutrition behaviors. Finally, we discuss studies on interventions targeting childhood overweight and obesity. There is no consensus on the optimal intervention targets (i.e., general parenting and/or food parenting practices). Based on the overview, we offer suggestions for future research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)30-36
Number of pages7
JournalCurrent Obesity Reports
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2015

Keywords

  • Food parenting practices
  • General parenting styles
  • Intervention studies
  • Children
  • Parents

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