If you are among the parents who never get tired of pushing their kids to finish up their food or restrict them from eating certain food types; this recent study is sure to leave you in utter shock. Although your intentions behind forcing kids to finish their meal are good, expert nutritionists state that forcing kids to eat can lead to anorexia (an eating disorder), or obesity.

Recent studies state that meal-time battles among pushy parents and picky kids could be linked to a range of eating disorders in kids, later in life. To help you understand more, let us take you through certain harmful effects of force feeding in kids. Have a look:

1. Forcing kids to eat their food makes them irritated as they feel like they are not being in control of their eating habits

2. It results in a power battle and kids tend to become more violent as they feel the urge to take control over their choice of eating.

3. When you force kids to eat, they never develop the skill of good self-regulation.

4. It even kills their natural appetite and they turn up to food only when they are forced to.

5. When forced to eat, kids tend to eat less because of which they don’t get the needed amount of nutrition.

6. As they eat food out of pressure, they never truly enjoy the meal time and develop a strong dislike towards it.

7. They may have frequent feeling of nausea or upset stomach as forceful eating affects their digestive system too. They may not chew the food properly in anger or eat carelessly.

8. They will grow up with several eating disorders which can either make them overweight or underweight.

9. Kids will never be able to make the right food choices as force eating never lets them understand nutritional value of foods.

How to stop forcing & encourage healthy eating?

Now that you have seen how force eating might be affecting your child’s overall health, it would be better that instead of pushing them to eat, you get started with encouraging & building healthy eating habit in them. Here are some ways,

• Your kids very well know when their stomach gets full, so if they say ‘No’ to more feeding; just stop it then and there. Don’t overload their stomach.
   
• Bring variety in what you are offering to your child in terms of nutrition. Don’t repeat same food kind as this will make them dislike it.
   
• Don’t ban any food completely; offer them in moderate amount and do explain to your kids as to why the particular kind of food isn’t good for their health.
   
• Encourage your child to assist you in preparing food. Involve him or her in doing little things as setting up the dinner table, getting food from the fridge or adding ingredients to a bowl. This will make them enjoy their meal time.
   
• Avoid serving too much food - it's better to ask them for more to know if they really want it.

Give your child some freedom when it comes to food so that he or she never feels forced upon. When they know, their bodily needs are respected and understood, they’ll always respond in a positive manner.