Essay on Effect of Parenting Styles on Child Obesity

The effect of different parenting styles on child obesity has been a subject of scientific research and scholarly debate. Sutherland et al. (2010) revealed that the phenomenon of childhood obesity has been on the increase among pre-school aged children in the United States. In the last three decades, the number of pre-school aged children who have become obese has doubled to about 13.9 percent. The prevalence of childhood obesity is high among children between four and sixteen years in Netherlands (Bocca et al., 2012). Many studies have attributed dietary practices in the family to rise in the number of obese children (Sutherland et al., 2010; Vignolo et al., 2008). Wyse et al. (2011) opined that food habits have a relationship with the development of child obesity. In a separate study, Savage et al. (2016) associated weight gain in infants with the development of obesity in the subsequent stages of development. Childhood obesity requires immediate treatment interventions to prevent it from developing into adolescence and adulthood. A study conducted by Vignolo (2008) revealed that despite the evidence of obesity in children, a few studies explored the effectiveness of the treatment programs leading to scanty evidence on the level of effectiveness. This paper explores the effect of different parenting styles on child obesity. It has reviewed a variety of literature presented on the topic.

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Many children mimic the dietary behavior of their parents with little regard to the implication of the food choices they make. Sutherland et al. (2010) carried out a study to investigate the choices of food and beverages among pre-school aged children. The research was based on a semi-structured observational study and involved children between two years and six years. Sutherland et al. (2010) revealed that more than 70 percent of children in the survey picked food choices that were regarded as less healthy. This figure was significantly higher than the percentage of children who chose healthy foods (10.8%). The research explored the motivation behind the choices of food that the children made. It concluded that the choices of food made were influenced by the way their parents categorized food while shopping.

Most children take meals with their parents, and the choices of food they make are likely to mirror the choices of food that their parents like (Sutherland et al., 2010: Wyse et al., 2011). Children whose parents prefer less healthy foods are likely to choose less healthy foods from a range of categories available. On the same note, children whose parents prefer healthy foods are likely to choose the same types of foods from the options available to them. While taking meals with parents, children are likely to adopt the dietary behavior that may live with them to adulthood. Sutherland et al. (2010) reported that the level of intake of sodium in children who are raised in Mexican American families have a positive correlation with that of the parents. According to Wyse et al. (2011), the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of families influence the dietary patterns of children. The home environment offers a promising setting that can influence a childs consumption of a given type of food.

Responsive parenting (RP) intervention reduces rapid increase in weight among infants. In a study to assess the effects of RP on infant weight gain, Savage et al. (2016) infants between birth and 28 weeks. This study was a randomized clinical controlled trial aimed at preventing childhood obesity. The study was carried out at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Centre in Pennsylvania. Many infants under RP intervention reduced weight gain scores in the first half of the year of their lives (Savage et al., 2016). The trial revealed positive effects of the intervention on the growth of the infants. On the other hand, Weigel et al. (2008) carried out a study to establish healthy lifestyles among obese children and adolescents in Bavaria (Germany). The study, which was a controlled clinical trial, featured 73 obese patients. The obese children were aged between seven and fifteen years, and had an average age of 11.2 years.

Weigel et al. (2015) placed the children and adolescents into three groups with respect to their ages. The age groups included 7&8, 9&10, and 11&13. Obese patients fell between 97th percentiles and 99.5th percentile. Any weight above 99.5th percentile was regarded as extremely obese. The treatment plan the patients involved a one-year intervention plan for 37 children and adolescents. It comprised physical activity, strategies for coping, nutritional education.

Weigel et al. (2015) further incorporated the element of parental participation in the study. By utilizing various analytical tools such as t-test and variance, the study revealed that group-based programs are effective in lowering the problem of obesity among children and adolescents. From the study, it is evident that parental participation is important in helping children to cope with the problem of obesity. This study lends credence to the findings of Wyse et al. (2010) on the effect of parental influence on the dietary patterns of children. Parents can promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging good dietary behavior, ensuring that children have adequate physical exercises, and encourage children to read literature around obesity and how to manage it. Such styles of parenting are important in preventing the development of obesity among children.

Wen et al. (2015) conducted a research study to evaluate the sustainability of the effects of home-based interventions on children in remote regions of Sydney, Australia. The study assumed a longitudinal approach and focused on 465 mothers with children below five years (Wen et al., 2015). Nurses from the community were used to deliver the type of intervention sought periodically. The study aimed at measuring the childrens body mass index (BMI) as well their dietary patterns, the level of physical activity, the time taken to watch TV, and overall quality of life. The authors concluded that there is a need to continue programs aimed at reducing obesity beyond two years.

An examination of the article by Wen et al. (2015) reveals the intentions of the authors. Fundamentally, they sought to evaluate the effects of the home-based intervention on the BMI of children. An analysis of the secondary outcomes reveals that the authors also intended to examine the relationship between dietary behavior and obesity. An examination of the length of time children take to watch television is an indication of their lack of involvement in physical activities that may encourage them to lose weight. It is evident that unless interventions towards the reduction of obesity are implemented over a long period, the problem of obesity among children may not be mitigated if the parenting styles remain unchanged. Thus, there is a need for an integration of the parental role in the implementation of home-based interventions.

A study conducted by Taveras et al. (2015) revealed that the incidences of childhood obesity are high. The study proposed several environmental and community-based approaches to reducing the likelihood of obesity consistent with the goal of Healthy People 2020. Taveras et al. (2015) explored the use of computerized CDS system plus family coaching as the intervention. It revealed that the intervention was effective in reducing body metabolic index (BMI) among children. The reduction in BMI led to a corresponding reduction in the likelihood of childhood obesity. In this regard, it is imperative that parenting styles can impact on the childs dietary behavior significantly and determine their chances of becoming obese. The integration of individualized family coaching in the management of childhood obesity is important.

Bocca et al. (2012) carried out a randomized clinical controlled trial to evaluate the effects of multidisciplinary intervention in relation to a usual-care program for children between three and five years at the Beatrix Childrens Hospital. The study involved 75 children placed into two categories which included obese and overweight children. Bocca et al. (2012) revealed positive effects of the multidisciplinary approach to the composition of the body. Moreover, the study established that the beneficial effects of the intervention could persist for one year after the implementation of the program.

In a study to evaluate how family therapy affects childhood obesity, Flodmark et al. (1993) observed that family therapy is an effective way of preventing the development of childhood obesity among children between 10 and 11 years. This study involved 44 obese children who the authors placed into two categories. It took consideration of body mass index of the children. Flodmark et al. (1993) subjected the two categories of children into dietary counseling as well as medical checkups. One category was subjected to additional family therapy as an intervention towards the reduction of obesity. By the end of the treatment, the study revealed a lesser increase in BMI for the category of children who received family therapy compared to the category of children in the control group. Clearly, it indicated that family therapy could be used as a means of checking on a childs BMI.

Childhood obesity presents a significant public health problem for parents and the country. Robertson et al. (2016) argued that despite various interventions towards the mitigation of childhood obesity, there is a high prevalence of the problem in England since it predisposes children to diabetes (type 2) and hypertension. In a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Families for Health (FFH) vis-a-vis usual care programs on reducing obesity in children, Robertson et al. (2016) revealed that the program is not effective in managing obesity in relation to the usual care. This study is useful for the development of this paper because it explores the effectiveness of FFH. The purpose of the program is to enhance parental skills and support changes in family lifestyles. The study mirrors other studies by Taveras et al. (2015) and Flodmark (1993) which underscored the role that parenting plays in the management of obesity among children.

The evidence presented revealed that childhood obesity is an increasing phenomenon in many countries, including the United States, England, and Netherlands. Parenting styles affect child obesity in several ways. The dietary patterns of children, the amount of time they take to watch televisions, and the time they spend with their parents and siblings can predispose children to the risk of childhood obesity. The reviewed literature reveals that multidisciplinary intervention programs can yield positive effects on the prevention of obesity in children.

References

Bocca, G., Corpeleijn, E., Stolk, R. P., & Sauer, P. J. (2012). Results of a multidisciplinary treatment program in 3-year-old to 5-year-old overweight or obese children: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 166(12), 1109-1115.

Flodmark, C. E., Ohlsson, T., Ryden, O., & Sveger, T. (1993). Prevention of progression to severe obesity in a group of obese schoolchildren treated with family therapy. Pediatrics, 91(5), 880-884.

Robertson, W., Fleming, J., Kamal, A., Hamborg, T., Khan, K. A., Griffiths, F., ... & Harrison, E. (2016). Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of the Families for Health programme to reduce obesity in children. Archives of Disease in Childhood, archdischild-2016.

Savage, J. S., Birch, L. L., Marini, M., Anzman-Frasca, S., & Paul, I. M. (2016). Effect of the INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention on rapid infant weight gain and overweight status at a...