Refusing food 'disturbs children'

Restricting food choice may not be a good thing

Parents who are too strict about their children's diet run the risk of causing psychological problems.

US researchers found that overweight girls as young as five suffered from problems with low self esteem after their parents imposed restrictions on the type of food that they could eat.

A better approach is to have healthy food in the house so that kids don't have to be restricted

Professor Leann Birch, Penn State University

Lead researcher Professor Leann Birch, of Penn State University, said: "When kids are given a standard - for example, eat only a few potato chips, not the whole bag - and they go beyond the limit, they feel bad about themselves.

"Restriction, which is often seen as an appropriate response on the part of the parents when a child becomes overweight, may actually make the problem worse.

"A better approach is to have healthy food in the house so that kids don't have to be restricted."

Professor Birch said girls should instead be encouraged to take part in enjoyable physical activities, such as dance or sports.

And she added: "Don't tease girls about their weight, even in a gentle way.

"It's clear from our study that the notion that one's weight can be a social liability emerges early on."

One-to-one interviews

The girls who participated in the study were weighed and measured.

Their self-esteem was assessed using questionnaires in one-to-one interviews.

Both the fathers and mothers of the girls were also quizzed about their concern over their daughter's weight and the degree to which they restricted their daughter's access to food.

Girls who were heavy for their height were more disatisfied, both with their body and their intellectual ability.

Girls whose fathers were concerned about their weight were more likely to think of themselves as physically inept.

Where mothers worried about their weight, girls were more likely to be disatisfied both with their physical and intellectual ability.

Overweight girls whose mothers restricted their access to certain types of food were more likely to think of themselves as lacking, both physically and mentally.

However, no such problem was found among slimmer girls whose mothers restricted their diet.

Need for alternatives

Dr Sara Stanner, a nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "By restricting the intake of foods that they deem 'unhealthy', parents can increase children's desire for these foods and encourage them to develop a poor body image.

"This is, of concern, particularly amongst girls, as it might promote restrictive eating behaviour in later childhood."

Ms Stanner agreed that parents should ensure 'healthier' foods were easily available.

She said they should also encourage guilt-free eating and the enjoyment of food by their children.

"Maintenance of a healthy weight should focus on increasing physical activity, rather than dietary restraint."

The research is published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.