Abstract
We aimed to identify positive parenting practices that set children on differential weight-trajectories. Parenting practices
studied were cognitively stimulating activities, limit-setting, disciplinary practices, and parent warmth. Data from two U.S.
national longitudinal data sets and linear and logistic regression were used to examine association of initial parenting practices
with subsequent change in body mass index (BMI) Z-score and being overweight, stratified by income and gender. Lower change
in BMI Z-score and lower likelihood of being or becoming overweight occurred among girls if parents engaged in cognitively
stimulating activities or set bedtime; among low-income girls if parents helped with art and set bedtime; among high-income
girls if they participated in dance or music, parents talked about nature or visited a museum or library, or parents had rules
about number of hours for watching television; among low-income boys if they participated in dance or parents built something
with them or set bedtime; and among high-income boys if they participated in dance or music. Greater expression of warmth
was associated with lower change in BMI Z-score. Parenting practices facilitating cognitive stimulation, setting limits, and
expressing warmth are associated with lower likelihood of being or becoming overweight and can be promoted by healthcare professionals.
studied were cognitively stimulating activities, limit-setting, disciplinary practices, and parent warmth. Data from two U.S.
national longitudinal data sets and linear and logistic regression were used to examine association of initial parenting practices
with subsequent change in body mass index (BMI) Z-score and being overweight, stratified by income and gender. Lower change
in BMI Z-score and lower likelihood of being or becoming overweight occurred among girls if parents engaged in cognitively
stimulating activities or set bedtime; among low-income girls if parents helped with art and set bedtime; among high-income
girls if they participated in dance or music, parents talked about nature or visited a museum or library, or parents had rules
about number of hours for watching television; among low-income boys if they participated in dance or parents built something
with them or set bedtime; and among high-income boys if they participated in dance or music. Greater expression of warmth
was associated with lower change in BMI Z-score. Parenting practices facilitating cognitive stimulation, setting limits, and
expressing warmth are associated with lower likelihood of being or becoming overweight and can be promoted by healthcare professionals.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10935-011-0256-6
- Authors
- Rasmi Avula, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Wendy Gonzalez, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Cheri J. Shapiro, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Maryah S. Fram, College of Social Work, DeSaussure College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Michael W. Beets, Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Sonya J. Jones, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Christine E. Blake, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Edward A. Frongillo, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Journal The Journal of Primary Prevention
- Online ISSN 1573-6547
- Print ISSN 0278-095X