HOW DO PARENTING AND PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS IMPACT ON PRESCHOOL CHILDREN'S EATING, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HABITS, AND SUBSEQUENT PATTERNS OF WEIGHT GAIN?

Abstract

The cost to society of obesity is high from both a financial and psychosocial perspective. Australian researchers can take a lead in the prevention of obesity during the formative preschool years, when models of risk factors are examined systematically and rigorously. This research will be the first prospective study to evaluate the impact of parental cognitions and behaviours, parent-child interactions, family/demographic characteristics and child characteristics on child risk factors (dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviours) during the preschool years. The findings will assist in developing evidence-based intervention strategies for maintenance of healthy weight gain in pre..