As rates of childhood obesity skyrocket, it seems appropriate for parents to forbid their children from eating chips, cookies, and candy at snack time. We'll a new study says being overly restrictive may actually backfire!

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University¹ evaluated 200 non-Hispanic white females and their parents at two-year intervals from the ages 5 to 15. Measurements included mothers' reports of girls' inhibitory (self) control levels, girls' reports of parental restriction in feeding, girls' body mass indices (BMIs), parents BMIs, education, and income. Results showed that girls with lower inhibitory control at age 7 had higher BMIs at all time points, greater weight gain, and were almost twice as likely to be overweight by age 15. Furthermore, girls who perceived higher parental restriction exhibited the strongest inverse relation between inhibitory control and weight status (high perceived restriction = low self-control and high weight status). Thus, parents who forbid their children from eating certain foods may prevent them from learning self-control, which ultimately may lead to weight gain.

So what's a parent to do? Let his/her children eat whatever they want? No. Provide a variety of healthy options at home, let children choose what and how much to eat, and when eating away from home (hopefully infrequently) let children choose what they want off the menu and encourage mindful eating (like stopping before feeling stuffed and taking 1/2 of large portions home).

¹ Anzman, S.L. (2009). Low inhibitory control and restrictive feeding practices predict weight outcomes. The Journal of Pediatrics, July 11 (available online).