Children of ‘firm but loving’ parents less likely to end up fat

CHILDREN whose parents are firm but show affection are far less likely to develop weight problems, research shows.

The study, which tracked 10,000 British children from the age of seven to 23, examined their family’s parenting styles.

Those brought up by parents who set consistent rules and boundaries, and showed warmth, were least likely to end up overweight, the research found. Very strict, or very uninvolved, parents on average had offspring 3.3lb heavier.

The study’s authors say the lack of warmth associated with authoritarian and neglectful parenting may mean a child’s ability to self-regulate intake – to eat when hungry and stop eating when full – does not develop properly.

Researcher Alexa Segal, of Imperial College Business School, said: “Future programmes could include classes where parents learn the importance of parenting style in preventing obesity. In cases where a child is already living with obesity, doctors might consider stressing the effect that a lack of parental warmth has on a child’s weight.”