PreSchooler Obesity and Parenting styles of Mothers and Fathers: National population study.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between children's body mass index (BMI), at ages 4 to 5 years, and mothers' and fathers' parenting styles. Data from 4983 children in wave 1 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used. Mothers and fathers self-reported their parenting behaviours on three multi-item continuous scales (warmth, control, and irritability) and were each classified as having one of four parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and disengaged). It was found that fathers', but not mothers', parenting behaviours and styles were associated with increased risks of preschooler overweight and obesity.