Source: Xinhua
04-11-2009 11:49
Special Report: Tech MaxBEIJING, April 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A new research shows children who lack willingness to delay gratification are more likely to be overweight later in life.
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| A new research shows children who lack willingness to delay gratification are more likely to be overweight later in life. (File photo) |
According to researchers with Penn State University, "our findings support recent studies showing that obesity is a problem that has its roots early in life and that early self-regulation failure may play a role in predicting overweight and obesity in the adolescent years."
The researchers said that the findings are encouraging because by teaching children self control early in their lives, particularly between the ages of 3 and 5, they may be able to prevent themselves from becoming overweight as they get older.
"We think a lot about obesity interventions, about prevention and focusing on eating healthy and exercising more," says Dr. Julie Lumeng, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan and an author of one of the current papers on children's behavior and weight. "But all of us, including doctors, are struggling because those interventions are not wildly successful."
The findings show that programs designed to improve self-regulation skills in general domains of behavior produced significant decreases in weight status and adiposity, as well as improvements in children's attitudes toward appetite control, and obesity-promoting behaviors (i.e., food choices and television viewing).
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Editor:Yang Jie
