Parents' Emotions Determine Children's Eating Habits
Author: Ivan Red Jr.
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
The emotional state of the mother has the greatest influence on the children's food preferences ...
Norwegian pediatricians from the University of Oslo have conducted a study, the results of which show that the emotional and mental state of parents determines the nutritional preferences of their children. The results of a study of more than 27,000 young mothers show that children whose parents are often in a minor mood or exposed to severe stress are much more likely to have unhealthy foods.
According to the authors of the study, the emotional state of the mother has the greatest influence on the eating habits of children. Norwegian researchers also took into account side factors such as the age of the mother, her social and family status, the number and number of children, and the eating habits of the family as a whole.
Scientists have paid the greatest attention to children's dietary preferences until the age of 18 months, when their eating habits are formed and the affinity for sweet high-calorie products, salty and fatty foods or semi-finished products arises.
The data from the study show that mothers who are more likely to experience anxiety, anger, insecurity or sadness are less likely to pay attention to the nutritional value of the products. Researchers have noticed that at a later age, children themselves are also more likely to choose high-calorie or high-carbohydrate foods, emphasizing sweets, chips and sodas.
Psychologists note that women with negative emotions and bad moods are often inattentive to their children and from an early age begin to give them foods high in sugar and calories.
This is thought to be related to the mother's stressful psychological and emotional state. That is why it is important for parents to control their negative emotions and monitor their behavior so that the child can grow not only mentally but also physically healthy, experts warn.
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