Parenting Styles, Feeding Styles, and Their Influence on Child Obesogenic Behaviors and Body Weight

Parenting styles and feeding styles are two critical components that shape a child’s eating behavior and body weight. 

Parenting style refers to the emotional climate in which parents raise their children, including communication patterns, warmth, control, and discipline strategies.

Feeding style, on the other hand, refers to the strategies parents use to regulate their child’s food intake, such as controlling portion sizes,

using food as a reward or punishment, and allowing the child to decide when, what, and how much to eat.

Several studies have shown that parenting and feeding styles play a significant role in the development of obesogenic behaviors and body weight in children.

In this article, we will explore the four primary parenting styles and their influence on child feeding practices and body weight.

Authoritative Parenting Style The authoritative parenting style is characterized by high levels of warmth, responsiveness, and support coupled with clear rules and expectations.

Parents who adopt this style tend to encourage their children’s autonomy, decision-making, and independence while providing a nurturing environment.

In terms of feeding practices, authoritative parents tend to use a responsive feeding style, where they provide their children with healthy food choices and allow them to decide how much to eat.

They also encourage their children to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full, promoting self-regulation of food intake.

Studies have shown that children raised by authoritative parents tend to have a lower risk of obesity and engage in healthier eating behaviors.

These children tend to consume more fruits and vegetables, have a lower intake of high-calorie snacks and sweetened beverages, and exhibit better self-control and regulation of food intake.

Authoritarian Parenting Style The authoritarian parenting style is characterized by high levels of control, structure, and discipline but low levels of warmth and responsiveness.

Parents who adopt this style tend to have strict rules and expectations for their children and enforce them through punishment and criticism.

In terms of feeding practices, authoritarian parents tend to use a controlling feeding style, where they restrict their children’s food choices and portion sizes,

use food as a reward or punishment, and pressure their children to eat even when they are not hungry.

Studies have shown that children raised by authoritarian parents tend to have a higher risk of obesity and engage in unhealthy eating behaviors.

These children tend to consume more high-calorie snacks and sweetened beverages, have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables, and exhibit lower self-control and regulation of food intake.

Permissive Parenting Style The permissive parenting style is characterized by high levels of warmth and responsiveness but low levels of control and discipline.

Parents who adopt this style tend to have few rules and expectations for their children and often allow them to make their own decisions.

In terms of feeding practices, permissive parents tend to use an indulgent feeding style, where they allow their children to eat whatever they want,

whenever they want, and in whatever amount they want.

Studies have shown that children raised by permissive parents tend to have a higher risk of obesity and engage in unhealthy eating behaviors.

These children tend to consume more high-calorie snacks and sweetened beverages, have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables, and exhibit lower self-control and regulation of food intake.

Neglectful Parenting Style The neglectful parenting style is characterized by low levels of warmth, responsiveness, control, and discipline.

Parents who adopt this style tend to be uninvolved in their children’s lives, provide little emotional support or guidance, and have few rules or expectations.

In terms of feeding practices, neglectful parents tend to use a disengaged feeding style, where they provide little or no guidance or structure around their children’s food intake.

Studies have shown that children raised by neglectful parents tend to have a higher risk of obesity and engage in unhealthy eating behaviors.

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