Parental Role on Childhood Obesity Review of Literature Kelsey Ewert

Mentor: Keri Edwards M.S., CCLS

Databases:

• Psycinfo• Sociological Abstracts• Family Studies AbstractsSearch Terms: • Parental efficacy in overweight children• Parent responsibility in overweight

adolescents• Parent role in obese children• Relationship between parent and child with

food• Parent role in food decisions in youth• Government responsibility with obese

children

1. Monitor

– Eating habits, exercise, screen time, weight

2. Educate

– Both parents and children together

3. Intervene

– Join community health run programs and be firm with child in restrictions

RESULTS



Percentage of high school students who were obese Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2011

(Centers for Disease Control, 2011)

Eating Habits

Support and Encouragement

Exercise

Restrict Screen Time

Monitor Health of Child

Epidemic 17% (12.7 million) US children and

adolescents aged 2--19 years had obesity.

Having BMI in the 90th percentile at the ages of 3-5 was associated with adult obesity, central obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Minorities are 30% more likely to be obese

Obesity has quadrupled in the past decade amongst children

Top three contributors in cardiovascular disease, asthma, shortened lifespans, Type 11 Diabetes and depression and other health issues

• Reduce 100% Fruit juice intake to 4-6 ounces

• Limit over processed foods high in calories

• 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

• Engage in authoritative behavior in feeding child

• Parent’s and children have similar BMI’s through adolescents

• Support systems moderate inverse relationships between overweight and physical well being

• Eat dinner and exercise together as a family

• 60 minutes of vigorous exercise daily• Reduce indoor leisure activities• Walk or bike to school and get outside

more often

Illinois is the only state in US to mandate all schools have PE class

Research Questions• How can parents prevent their

child from long term health complications by avoiding obesity?

• What is the government currently doing to help families and this dilemma?

• No more than 2 hours of TV a day• Higher processed food is eaten in

front of screen than of any other leisure activity

• Higher rates of obesity in children who had TV’s in bedroom

• Won’t directly lead to obesity but constitutes as inactivity that needs to be reduced

• Regular doctor checkups• Linear relationship between childhood

BMI to adulthood• Monitor eating habits, weight, time spent

inactive

Conclusion

Method