Parents' role in children's weight gain

Researchers at Cornell University, in New York, say that children’s food consumption is not moderated by what they have already eaten on a given day. They say a big breakfast does not reduce appetite for later meals, and that the more snacks children are given the more calories they will consume. Study author Dr David Levitsky says the findings suggest that children are no better than adults at curbing their eating and that parents have a large influence on their children’s health. He says the biggest determinant of the amount a child will eat is the amount served, and suggests that parents put out only small amounts at a time, replenishing it if requested, rather than to start off with a large portion, which he says will be eaten however large it is.

Reuters