Maternal parenting style and body mass index among 6–12-year-old girls in Saudi Arabia: A pilot study

Background:

An increasingly high prevalence of overweight and obesity exists among Saudi children. Parenting style may serve as a potential predictor in overweight and obesity.

Aim:

This study examines parenting style as a potential predictor relationship in overweight and obesity among Saudi children. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 92 paired girls and mothers was conducted to determine the association between maternal parenting styles and Saudi girls’ BMI.

Findings:

The results indicated that the most prevalent parenting style was the authoritative. Majority of students have a moderate obesogenic environment. However, it was not significantly correlated with students BMI. Also, parenting styles were not significantly correlated with an obesogenic environment.

Conclusions:

Factors other than maternal parenting styles such as environmental factors, families’ socioeconomic status, or cultural factors might be stronger contributors to an obesogenic environment. Larger heterogenous studies are warranted to explore children's BMI and parenting styles associations in Saudi Arabia.