USDA Study Pinpoints Differences In Households With Obese Children And Those Without

"The study found some eating characteristics of obese and nonobese-child household weren’t so different. The number of times both types of households ate dinner out or at home during the week, as well as the time children ate lunch, dinner and snacks, did not differ. However, minors in nonobese-child households ate breakfast 5 percent more often than those in obese-child households. That further suggests the need to take breakfast meals seriously, since they are considered the most important of the day.

Demographics and socioeconomic characteristics were also looked at. The study found minors from obese-child households are more likely to be Hispanic than those who live in nonobese-child households. The study also found children who live in households in which parents are not married, have lower education levels and are tight on money are likely to live in obese-child households. Another characteristic of an obese-child household is if the parents are obese themselves."