Study: Parents of Overweight Children Fail to Set Good Example

Parents generally blame themselves for having an overweight child, but they fail to set a good example, according to a study conducted by Research International and Lightspeed Research.

Only 29 percent of the parents of overweight children who responded to the on-line survey said they were at their ideal weight or underweight.

The survey found that most parents of overweight children blame themselves, despite claims of being knowledgeable about good nutrition and the importance of exercise in losing weight.

Only 9 percent of parents with overweight children had consulted a pediatrician or nutritionist about the problem.

And while parents say they want communities to prohibit foods with minimum nutritional value at school, only 7 percent indicated that they are willing to take an active role in working with their PTA or school district to make that happen.

Other sources: Research International USA