Family factors
Parent-child interactions and the home environment can
affect behaviours related to risk of obesity. Family life
has changed a lot over the past two decades, with trends
towards eating out and greater access to television than
previously. Children consume more energy when meals
are eaten in restaurants than at home,116 possibly because
restaurants tend to serve larger portions of energy dense
foods. A bedroom television increases viewing by 38 min
per day.117 By contrast, eating family dinner seems to
decrease television viewing117 and improve diet quality
(less saturated and trans fat, less fried food, lower
glycaemic load, more fibre, fewer soft drinks, and more
fruits and vegetables).118 Moreover, social support from
parents and others correlates strongly with participation
in physical activity.119 In view of these results—relating
psychosocial factors to dietary and physical activity
behaviours that affect energy balance—it is not
surprising that children who suffer from neglect,
depression, or other related problems are at substantially
increased risk for obesity during childhood and later in
life.