Certain Parental Behaviors may Increase Child's Risk of Obesity

Though many parents may be unaware, a recent study shows that certain behaviors used with their child could greatly increase his or her risk of being obese in the future.

For the study, researchers at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill interviewed 863 low-income parents who had two-month-old toddlers, while asking all parents about their feeding behaviors. Study results showed that only 19 percent of the parents reported breast-feeding their infants exclusively, with 45 percent stating that they only fed their infants formula milk.

"Breast-feeding likely lowers the risk of childhood obesity to some extent," said lead researcher Dr. Eliana Perrin, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, via a press release.

The researchers also examined other behaviors that could potentially increase an infants' future risk of obesity. For instance, findings showed that roughly two-thirds of parents stated that they did not follow "tummy time" instructions, with close to 40 percent of parents allowing their babies to sleep with their bottles.

Another 12 percent even began introducing their child to solid food at four months. For 38 percent of parents, they also tried to always get their child to finish the bottle. This can pose a problem as the new baby may no longer be hungry, and showing signs in this way, that he or she is full.

The study also found that on most days, infants were in a room with the TV on for an average of six hours. As 50 percent of the parents stated that their babies watched TV for an average of half an hour a day, findings showed that this could potentially harm the emotional parent-child bond, as well as increase their risk of future obesity.

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Pediatrics.