Are parents responsible for childhood obesity?

Parental influence and childhood obesity

Many things that contribute to childhood obesity are beyond a parent or caregiver’s control, including the following:

• socioeconomic factors
• psychological pressures or lack of support
• genetic influence

However, with support, if needed, parents and caregivers can influence a child’s attitudes and behaviors and set up lifelong healthy habits that can help prevent obesity. These habits relate to the following:

• eating behaviors
• physical activity
• screen time
• sleep

For more information, see the “Tips” section later in this article.

Learn more about obesity.

Early years

Having obesity during pregnancy increases the likelihood that an infant will be larger than expected at birth and develop obesity later in life.

Nursing in the first year of life is associated with a lower risk of a child developing obesity. However, if a person cannot or does not wish to nurse, they may still be able to influence a child’s obesity risk in their early years.

A 2021 narrative review quotes older research that suggests parents and caregivers may establish more than 70% of their children’s feeding behaviors through their own food intake and socialization in the family environment.

It also states that evidence suggests high parental involvement and role-modeling practices may support positive food-related behaviors, especially among young children. For example, the review referred to previous studies that suggested an association may exist between the frequency of shared family meals and a healthier body weight and dietary habits in children.

The authors also mentioned research that found excessive pressure or food restriction may relate to overeating, especially among preschool-age children.

However, more long-term studies are necessary determine the causal link between parental feeding practices and children’s eating habits.

How common is childhood obesity?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have obesity.

Between 2017 and 2020, 19.7% of children and adolescents in the U.S. had the condition. This means that obesity affects 14.7 million of those in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 19 years.

Childhood obesity affects some groups more than others. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children and children in families with lower incomes are more likely have obesity.

Factors that contribute to obesity

Childhood obesity is a complex condition with various contributing factors.

Environmental factors

A 2019 study notes several ways in which a child’s environment affects their obesity risk, such as the below:

Accessibility of resources

Living in an area with limited access to affordable nutritious food, called a “food desert,” significantly affects a person’s likelihood of developing obesity.

The 2019 study notes that the level of accessibility to affordable healthy food varies significantly according to neighbourhoods’ racial and ethnic composition and socioeconomic level.

Some families, such as those who live in rural areas, may live further away from recreational facilities. In urban areas, some under-resourced communities have less access to places, such as parks, where children can play and exercise outside safely.

A 2020 review also concludes that obesity may be considered a form of socioeconomic disadvantage, as having a low socioeconomic status is one of the risk factors for developing obesity.

More recently, research from 2023 has reinforced the idea that rising childhood overweight and obesity in the U.S. is associated with rising wealth inequality.

Advances in technology and the food industry

Advances in technology and changes in the food industry have also contributed to the increase in obesity. For example, the media may now market certain unhealthy foods in a way that encourages people to consume them more.

Exposure to trauma

There is an association between childhood trauma and the development of obesity during early adulthood. The authors of a 2022 study suggest children may use food as a coping mechanism in response to traumatic experiences.

The findings of research from 2024 support previous studies that found the experience of childhood abuse increases the risk of overweight in adulthood.

Examples of other experiences that may contribute to childhood obesity include:

• family separation or divorce
• addiction or substance misuse in the family
• emotional neglect

A 2023 editorial also refers to parental stress as one of the contributing factors to childhood obesity. Poverty, inequality, discrimination, and other social problems contribute to familial stress.

If a parent or caregiver is concerned about their child’s mental health, they can speak with a doctor. The doctor may refer them to a mental health professional or other supports.

Genetic factors

Possible genetic syndromes that cause severe obesity include:

• Prader Willi syndrome
• Alstrom syndrome
• Bardet Biedl syndrome
• Beckwith-Weideman syndrome
• Cohen syndrome

However, polygenic obesity is more common. This refers to obesity that results from a complex interaction between various genes and the environment.

Tips on how to support child with obesity

While many factors that contribute to childhood obesity are outside a family’s control, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests several ways that parents and caregivers can help treat or prevent the condition:

• Adapting familial eating patterns: For optimal health, its is best for families to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Frozen and canned options are often less expensive than fresh. For information about meal sites, food banks, and other local services, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (or 1-877-8-HAMBRE for Spanish) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday.
• Exercising together: Where possible, the CDC suggests making exercise a family activity, such as riding bikes, having races together, or engaging in active chores, such as washing the car or vacuuming. Children ages 3 to 5 years need to be physically active throughout the day. Those ages 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of activity per day.
• Having consistent sleep routines: Lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of excess weight gain. Staying with a consistent sleep schedule, including on weekends, can help:
  • preschoolers need 10 to 13 hours of sleep per day, including naps
  • children ages 6 to 12 need 9 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
  • adolescents ages 13 to 17 need 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
• Reducing screen time: The CDC recommends reducing screen time to allow for more family activities. Turning off screens 1 hour before bed can also help with sleep.
• Looking for helpful early care and education (ECE) providers: If a child is a nonfamilial care arrangement before attending kindergarten, it may be possible to seek out an ECE program that has high nutrition standards for the food they serve, provides access to outdoor physical activity, and limits screen time.
• Joining a Family Healthy Weight Program: In some cases, a doctor may provide a referral to a comprehensive, family-based program to help with strategies to prevent or manage overweight or obesity.

Read more about preventing childhood obesity.

Summary

Approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the U.S. have obesity. Childhood obesity is a complex condition with a wide range of potential contributing factors that relate to a child’s environment, level of socioeconomic advantage, genetics, and exposure to trauma and psychological stress.

While many of these factors are outside the control of parents and caregivers, adopting certain strategies as a family, such as engaging in physical activity together at home and having consistent sleep schedules, may help prevent childhood obesity.

Doctors can also recommend healthy weight programs and certain medications suitable for treating childhood obesity.