Parental and Home Environments

A number of factors related to home and parental environment may have an effect on children's eating habits and consequent weight status. Many studies have demonstrated a significant heritable component of eating habits and body weight. However, changes in population genetics could not occur rapidly enough to fully explain the dramatic increases in rates of obesity in recent years. Thus, environment seems to play a critical role in the development of obesity. Home and parental environment have received much attention by researchers investigating factors related to development of obesity, because it is in the home that most early experiences with food and physical activity occur.

Some demographic variables of the home have been found to relate to children's eating, level of physical activity, and weight status. While evidence on the impact of socioeconomic status is mixed, many studies suggest an association between low income and increased rates of obesity. This may be due to a number of factors. In lower-income households, higher weights in early childhood may be considered a mark of good health, foods such as fruits and vegetables may be less available or considered to be too expensive, and the environment may be less stimulating and conducive to physical activity. Parental education may also play a role. Lower levels of parental education have been linked with childhood obesity. Further, children of parents who are lacking in nutritional education tend to have greater caloric and fat intake and less fruit and vegetable consumption.

Also related to childhood obesity is a single-parent home environment. Children from single-parent homes [Page 581]tend to eat fewer meals but more snacks. This erratic eating schedule may be result from the single parent's need to work long hours as the sole household provider and may be responsible for the increased obesity risk. Parents' work schedules appear to impact children's risk of obesity. Increases in the number of mothers in the workforce have often been blamed for poorer household eating habits; however, there is no evidence that maternal employment affects dietary quality. That said, the number of hours that parents work may affect a child, such that children of parents who work longer hours are at increased risk for obesity. This is likely due to decreased availability of these parents to provide healthful food choices and set meal schedules for children.

The quality of the food and drinks available in the home environment can have an impact on a child's weight outcome. Consumption of certain foods, such as fruits and vegetables, foods high in fiber, and dairy products has been linked to favorable health outcomes, while other foods (e.g., high-fat foods) and drinks (e.g., soft drinks) have been linked with increased risk of obesity. There is evidence to suggest that the availability of and familiarity with healthy and unhealthy foods may influence a child's weight. Fruit and vegetable intake, as well as soft drink and snack consumption has often been linked with the availability of these foods within the home environment.

Meal consumption at home is associated with increased fruit, vegetable, dairy, and vitamin and mineral intake and decreased intake of soft drinks and fried foods; it allows parents a forum to provide children with healthier food choices and to model healthy eating behaviors.

These findings may simply result from convenience factors. Children often report eating whatever is available and accessible in the home. However, especially in younger children, familiarity is strongly related to food preference and increased exposure to a food leads to increased acceptance of the food. This indicates children may eat more of what is available at home not just because it is easier, but also because they come to prefer the foods that are commonly available to them. Therefore, by making healthier options available for children in the home, parents may positively affect long-term eating habits.

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