Dads eat outdoors have children who eat Out, study finds

the fathers have a major influence on how often their children eat fast food and other types of restaurants, shows new research.

The study includes 312 families in Houston who were interviewed on schedules of parents, parenting style, beliefs about family meals and the amount of time children spend in the car with the parents. Children in families were ages 9 to 11 and 13 to 15.

Factors associated with eating more included: two parents having standard working hours. children spend more time in the family car; and the use of the fathers of restaurants, according to researchers at the Texas A & M University.

Meals served in restaurants tend to be higher in fat, calories and salt than meals prepared at home, researchers, said in a press release of the newspaper.

The authors of the study made special note of the strong association between fathers and children use of and the time spent in fast food restaurants and full service.

The study is published in May / June issue of the journal of Nutrition, education and behaviour.

"As demonstrated by food, as behaviour based on the home and food fast food, catering for track from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood, fathers should be encouraged to model healthy food choices when they get food and eating with children at home." After all, fathers who believe that the dinner is an important family ritual reduce the use of fast food; This perception should be encouraged among the fathers, "study author Alex McIntosh, said in a press release of the newspaper.

The results highlight the importance of identifying the factors that increase the use of American families in restaurants, according to researchers.