ABSTRACT
Many factors have been associated with the development of childhood obesity. The socioecological model [1] suggests that the closest level of influence to the child besides individual-level factors such as biology, epigenetics, and genetics, is the microsystem that involves interpersonal relationships with parents and family. Parents are responsible for the home environment and control what foods are available, provide opportunities for physical activity, model important eating and activity behaviors, set limits and behavioral expectations, create a socioemotional environment that shapes the child’s socialization and growth, and influence the overall family functioning in the home. As such, parents are critical to the overall growth and development of the child, as well as to the development of obesity and obesity-related behaviors. Their participation is also essential to the success of the child’s efforts in weight control interventions [2,3]. The goal of this chapter is to highlight the parent-and family-level factors that influence the development of childhood obesity and obesityrelated behaviors through a number of different mechanisms.
