Genes and the environment? Factors, patterns that lead to childhood obesity risk

A factor that has been linked to childhood obesity is restrictive feeding practices by primary caregivers, the implication being that it may interfere with a child's ability to learn to self-regulate food intake. When a child is overweight, parents tend to use more controlling, restrictive feeding practices. A new study is showing that a child's genetics, related to emotion and cognition, may also play a role in this pattern.