Mother's mealtime tactics and children's eating habits

School-age children whose mothers tightly control their diets may be prone to overeating, while those with mothers who pressurise them to eat tend to be fussy about food.

A number of previous studies have found that when parents strictly control their children's diets - either denying all unhealthy fare or pressuring them to expand their menu choices – children may be more likely to have less-than-ideal eating habits. But it has not been clear whether parents' tactics are a cause of or response to their children's dining habits. Nor is it certain how all of this factors into children's weight.

Researchers surveyed 213 mothers of 7- to 9-year-old children from five London schools. The mothers completed a questionnaire that asked about their children's responsiveness to food - whether the child would typically overeat if given the chance - as well as signs of food avoidance, like eating slowly or routinely failing to finish meals. Mothers also reported on their own mealtime strategies - including whether they tried to get their children to eat even when they said they weren't hungry, or whether they believed their children would overindulge if they were given no eating restrictions.

Overall, the researchers found a correlation between mothers' pressure to eat healthy and children's degree of fussiness over food. Similarly, mothers' restriction of food correlated with children's responsiveness to food; the more restriction, the more likely mothers were to say their children would overindulge if allowed. The links were seen regardless of children's weight.

According to the researchers, a number of studies have suggested that parents are often responding to their children when they choose to either restrict their eating or pressure them to eat more. Some studies have found, for instance, that children whose parents put on the pressure are often thin. And that fits the notion that these parents are often worried that their child is underweight. On the flip side, studies of siblings have found that mothers tend to put more diet restrictions on their heavier child - again suggesting that many mothers are reacting to their children's weight or eating habits. With growing evidence of a genetic basis to eating behaviour and food intake in children, the above results are consistent with the idea that mothers' feeding practices are, to some extent, responsive to their children's predisposition towards food.

The relationship may go in the other direction as well - making it important to recognise that children may both influence and be influenced by their parents' diet management. In general, experts recommend that parents try to get their children interested in healthy foods from an early age - by having them, for example, help with shopping and preparing meals. With young children who are fussy eaters, experts suggest regularly offering them colourful foods, and making the eating environment pleasant but without any mealtime distractions like TV. It is also important for parents to act as dietary role models: if parents regularly eat their fruits and vegetables, children may be more willing to do it too.