Obesity is now nearly as prevalent among preschool
children3 — 5 as among older
children, and those who are overweight or obese at
school entry
typically remain so during the
primary school years.6 Given that the development of obesity reflects both nutritional and physical activity behaviors and that during the preschool years these behaviors occur largely within the family unit, it is timely to scrutinize the roles of parents and parenting in the preschool years.