Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of General Parenting Style in Child Diet and Obesity Risk

  • Maternal and Childhood Nutrition (AC Wood, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Nutrition Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The childhood obesity epidemic is widely considered to have reached pandemic proportions. Across the world, children with obesity are facing numerous psychological and physiological issues that follow them into adulthood, frequently leading to chronic illness and early death. In an effort to combat the compounding effects of childhood overweight, researchers are attempting to identify biological and environmental contributors to child weight. Parenting styles are one recognized influence on child diet and body mass index (BMI). This review is a comprehensive examination of the literature on the influence of parenting style on childhood diet and BMI over the past 5 years.

Recent Findings

Current research continues to support the use of traditional parenting style categories (i.e., authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, uninvolved/neglectful): however, newer subcategories of Baumrind’s styles and the inclusion of previously underrepresented groups (e.g., fathers, cross cultural comparison studies) are shedding more light on the nuance of parenting’s relationship with child weight.

Summary

Parenting styles that focus on the balance of warmth and control (e.g., authoritative) in contrast to the styles dedicated to only one of these constructs (e.g., permissive, authoritarian) seem to promote the healthiest dietary habits and may be protective of child BMI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Faienza M, Wang D, Frühbeck G, et al. The dangerous link between childhood and adulthood predictors of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Intern Emerg Med. 2016;11:175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bray G, Kim K, Wilding J. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A positive statement of the World Obesity Federation. Wiley. 2017.

  3. Wildhalm K. Prevention of obesity in childhood and adolescence. Karger. 2018.

  4. Janssen I, Craig WM, Boyce WF, Pickett W. Associations between overweight and obesity with bullying behaviors in school-aged children. Pediatrics. 2004;113(5):1187–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Strauss RS. Childhood obesity and self-esteem. Pediatrics. 2000;105(1):e15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hales CM, Fryar CD, Carroll MD, Freedman DS, Ogden CL. Trends in obesity and severe obesity prevalence in US youth and adults by sex and age, 2007-2008 to 2015-2016. Jama. 2018;319(16):1723–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith KB, Smith MS. Obesity statistics. Prim Care. 2016;43(1):121–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. •• Langer SL, Seburg E, JaKa MM, Sherwood NE, Levy RL. Predicting dietary intake among children classified as overweight or at risk for overweight: independent and interactive effects of parenting practices and styles. Appetite. 2017;110:72–9 This article examines a cross-sectional study of parent–child dyads. The relationships between Baumrind parenting styles and child diet and BMI are investigated. Child diet is measured by 24 hour recall with numerous food categories. Results indicate clear connections between constructs.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Baumrind D. Effects of authoritative parental control on child behavior. Child Dev. 1966;1:887–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Power TG. Parenting dimensions and styles: a brief history and recommendations for future research. Child Obes. 2013;9(s1):S–14.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Pinquart M, Kauser R. Do the associations of parenting styles with behavior problems and academic achievement vary by culture? Results from a meta-analysis. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2018;24(1):75–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Baumrind D. Current patterns of parental authority. Dev Psychol. 1971;4(1p2):1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Maccoby EE, Martin JA, Mussen PH, Hetherington E. Handbook of child psychology. 1983.

  14. Cyril S, Halliday J, Green J, Renzaho AM. Relationship between body mass index and family functioning, family communication, family type and parenting style among African migrant parents and children in Victoria, Australia: a parent-child dyad study. BMC Public Health. 2016;15:707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Collins C, Duncanson K, Burrows T. A systematic review investigating associations between parenting style and child feeding behaviours. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2014;27(6):557–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shloim N, Edelson LR, Martin N, Hetherington MM. Parenting styles, feeding styles, feeding practices, and weight status in 4–12 year-old children: a systematic review of the literature. Front Psychol. 2015;6:1849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hand RK, Perzynski AT. Ecologic momentary assessment: perspectives on applications and opportunities in research and practice regarding nutrition behaviors. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2016;48(8):568–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Boots SB, Tiggemann M, Corsini N, Mattiske J. Managing young children’s snack food intake. The role of parenting style and feeding strategies. Appetite. 2015;92:94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Carbert NS, Brussoni M, Geller J, Masse LC. Moderating effects of family environment on overweight/obese adolescents’ dietary behaviours. Appetite. 2019;134:69–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. • Jennings KM, Loth KA, Tate AD, Miner MH, Berge JM. Application of latent profile analysis to define subgroups of parenting styles and food parenting practices. Appetite. 2019;139:8–18 This cross-sectional study uses parent–child dyads to investigate the relationship between Baumrind parenting styles and child BMI and food intake. This study includes a wealth of variables of interest to explore the nuance of the parent–child food relationship. This article is an example of a study showing the common null result when examining the relationship between BMI and parenting style.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Alsharairi NA, Somerset SM. Associations between parenting styles and children’s fruit and vegetable intake. Ecol Food Nutr. 2015;54(1):93–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Bergmeier H, Skouteris H, Horwood S, Hooley M, Richardson B. Child temperament and maternal predictors of preschool children’s eating and body mass index. A prospective study. Appetite. 2014;74:125–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Burke MP, Jones SJ, Frongillo EA, Blake CE, Fram MS. Parenting styles are associated with overall child dietary quality within low-income and food-insecure households. Public Health Nutr. 2019;17:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Burnett AJ, Worsley A, Lacy KE, Lamb KE. Moderation of associations between maternal parenting styles and Australian pre-school children’s dietary intake by family structure and mother’s employment status. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(6):997–1009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Chen Y, Haines J, Charlton BM, VanderWeele TJ. Positive parenting improves multiple aspects of health and well-being in young adulthood. Nat Hum Behav. 2019.

  26. Connell LE, Francis LA. Positive parenting mitigates the effects of poor self-regulation on body mass index trajectories from ages 4-15 years. Health Psychol. 2014;33(8):757–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Gerards SM, Niermann C, Gevers DW, Eussen N, Kremers SP. The relationship between mother-reported family nutrition climate, general parenting, food parenting practices and children’s BMI. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):1018.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Gevers DW, van Assema P, Sleddens EF, de Vries NK, Kremers SP. Associations between general parenting, restrictive snacking rules, and adolescent’s snack intake. The roles of fathers and mothers and interparental congruence. Appetite. 2015;87:184–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Innella N, McNaughton D, Schoeny M, Tangney C, Breitenstein S, Reed M, et al. Child temperament, maternal feeding practices, and parenting styles and their influence on obesogenic behaviors in Hispanic preschool children. J Sch Nurs. 2018.

  30. Kakinami L, Barnett TA, Séguin L, Paradis G. Parenting style and obesity risk in children. Prev Med. 2015;75:18–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Lopez NV, Schembre S, Belcher BR, O'Connor S, Maher JP, Arbel R, et al. Parenting styles, food-related parenting practices, and children’s healthy eating: a mediation analysis to examine relationships between parenting and child diet. Appetite. 2018;128:205–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Melis Yavuz H, Selcuk B. Predictors of obesity and overweight in preschoolers: the role of parenting styles and feeding practices. Appetite. 2018;120:491–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. •• Niemeier BS, Duan YP, Shang BR, Yang J. Parental influences on weight-related health behaviors in western and eastern cultures. Child Care Health Dev. 2017;43(2):259–66 This article outlines a cross-cultural comparison study examining the relationship between parenting style and BMI of parent and child. It depicts how culture can impact these relationships.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Philips N, Sioen I, Michels N, Sleddens E, De Henauw S. The influence of parenting style on health related behavior of children: findings from the ChiBS study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11(1):95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Rhee KE, Boutelle KN, Jelalian E, Barnes R, Dickstein S, Wing RR. Firm maternal parenting associated with decreased risk of excessive snacking in overweight children. Eat Weight Disord. 2015;20(2):195–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Rodenburg G, Kremers SP, Oenema A, Van de Mheen D. Associations of parental feeding styles with child snacking behaviour and weight in the context of general parenting. Public Health Nutr. 2014;17(5):960–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Sleddens EF, Kremers SP, Stafleu A, Dagnelie PC, De Vries NK, Thijs C. Food parenting practices and child dietary behavior. Prospective relations and the moderating role of general parenting. Appetite. 2014;79:42–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Tung H, Yeh M. Parenting style and child-feeding behaviour in predicting children’s weight status change in Taiwan. Public Health Nutr. 2014;17(5):970–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wang L, van de Gaar VM, Jansen W, Mieloo CL, van Grieken A, Raat H. Feeding styles, parenting styles and snacking behaviour in children attending primary schools in multiethnic neighbourhoods: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2017;13:7(7).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Musher-Eizenman DR, Kiefner A. Food parenting: a selective review of current measurement and an empirical examination to inform future measurement. Child Obes. 2013;9(s1):S–32.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Findlay, 1000 North Main St., Findlay, OH, 48540, USA

    Allison Kiefner-Burmeister

  2. Western Wyoming Community College, 2500 College Dr., Rock Springs, WY, 82901, USA

    Nova Hinman

Authors
  1. Allison Kiefner-Burmeister
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nova Hinman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Allison Kiefner-Burmeister.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Maternal and Childhood Nutrition

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kiefner-Burmeister, A., Hinman, N. The Role of General Parenting Style in Child Diet and Obesity Risk. Curr Nutr Rep 9, 14–30 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00301-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-020-00301-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation