Parents not helping overweight children to eat a healthy diet
If your teenager is overweight, don't tell him or her to go on a diet—it can make matters worse, according to a new University of Minnesota study led by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer (at right).
Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers found that overweight teens, especially girls, who were encouraged by their parents to diet for weight control were more likely to remain overweight five years later, compared with their peers whose parents did not encourage dieting.
“Our findings suggest that less emphasis should be placed on informing parents that their children are overweight, and more emphasis should be placed on providing parents with the information, tools, and support to help their children make healthier eating and physical activity choices," said Neumark-Sztainer.
Listen to Neumark-Sztainer discuss the findings of her study (4:25)
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