A new study from Saudi Arabia looked at how parents’ eating habits and rules about food affect what teenage boys and girls eat. Researchers surveyed 656 teenagers and their parents to see which parenting approaches worked best. They found that the same parenting strategies don’t work equally for boys and girls. For example, when moms model healthy eating and teach about nutrition, boys tend to eat better. But for girls, strict rules about eating for health reasons actually backfired. The findings suggest that parents might need different approaches depending on whether they’re raising sons or daughters.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether the way parents handle food and eating rules affects how healthy teenage boys and girls eat
  • Who participated: 656 teenagers (ages 11-18) and both their mothers and fathers from schools in western Saudi Arabia. The study included both boys and girls from different family income levels and education backgrounds
  • Key finding: Different parenting strategies work better for boys versus girls. For boys, moms showing healthy eating habits and teaching about nutrition helped the most. For girls, dads teaching about nutrition helped, but moms being strict about eating for health reasons actually made eating habits worse
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent, a one-size-fits-all approach to food rules may not work for all your kids. Boys and girls might respond better to different parenting strategies around eating. This suggests parents should think about their child’s sex when deciding how to guide their eating habits

The Research Details

Researchers collected information from teenagers and their parents at one point in time (between October 2021 and January 2022) rather than following them over months or years. Both mothers and fathers filled out detailed questionnaires about their food rules and teaching methods. Teenagers reported what they typically ate using a food frequency questionnaire, which asks about eating patterns rather than tracking every single meal. The researchers then looked at whether certain parenting practices were connected to better or worse eating quality scores for boys separately from girls.

By looking at boys and girls separately, researchers could spot important differences that might get hidden if they mixed everyone together. This approach is important because teenagers are becoming more independent and influenced by friends, so parenting might affect them differently than younger children. Looking at both moms’ and dads’ influence separately also helps show whether each parent matters differently

This study was published in a well-respected nutrition journal. The researchers adjusted their analysis to account for other factors that might affect eating (like age, family income, and parent education). However, because this is a snapshot study rather than following kids over time, we can’t prove that parenting practices actually cause better eating—only that they’re connected. The study was done in Saudi Arabia, so results might be different in other countries with different food cultures

What the Results Show

For teenage boys, three maternal practices made a real difference: when moms showed healthy eating by example (modeling), when they taught boys about nutrition, and when they monitored what boys ate. All three of these were linked to boys having better overall diet quality. Additionally, when fathers set limits on eating for weight reasons, boys also had better diet quality. These connections were statistically significant, meaning they’re unlikely to be due to chance.

For teenage girls, the pattern was quite different. When mothers were strict about eating for health reasons, girls actually had worse diet quality—the opposite of what you might expect. However, when fathers taught daughters about nutrition, girls had better diet quality. This suggests that girls might resist strict rules from moms but respond well to educational approaches from dads.

The differences between boys and girls were notable enough that researchers emphasized these sex-specific patterns matter for understanding how parenting affects eating habits. The strength of these associations varied, with some being stronger than others, but all the significant findings pointed in consistent directions within each sex group.

The study found that family background factors like parent education level, family income, and which city the family lived in all played roles in the results. These factors were controlled for in the analysis, meaning researchers accounted for them when looking at parenting effects. The age of the teenager (ranging from 11-18) was also considered, suggesting that parenting effects might vary across the teenage years

Previous research has shown that parenting practices affect what kids eat, but most studies didn’t separate boys from girls. This study adds important new information by showing that the same parenting strategy doesn’t work equally for everyone. The finding that restriction backfires for girls aligns with some recent research suggesting that strict food rules can sometimes lead to unhealthy eating patterns, especially in girls. The positive effect of parental modeling (showing healthy eating yourself) matches what many other studies have found

This study only captured one moment in time, so we can’t say for certain that parenting practices cause better eating—only that they’re connected. The study was done in Saudi Arabia, where food culture and family dynamics might be different from other countries, so results may not apply everywhere. The researchers relied on parents and teenagers to report their own behaviors, which might not be completely accurate. Additionally, the study didn’t include information about other influences on teen eating like peer pressure, social media, or school food environments

The Bottom Line

Parents should consider their child’s sex when thinking about food rules and teaching. For boys, modeling healthy eating yourself and actively teaching about nutrition appear to be effective strategies (moderate confidence). For girls, educational approaches from fathers seem helpful, while strict rules from mothers may backfire (moderate confidence). These findings suggest a personalized approach works better than one standard method for all children. However, these are associations, not proven cause-and-effect, so results should be considered alongside other parenting research

Parents of teenagers (especially ages 11-18) should pay attention to these findings, as they suggest different approaches for sons versus daughters. Nutrition educators and family counselors working with teenagers could use this information to give more tailored advice. Teenagers themselves might benefit from understanding that their parents’ approaches might be designed differently based on their sex. This research is most relevant to families in Middle Eastern or similar cultural contexts, though the general principles may apply more broadly

Changes in eating habits don’t happen overnight. If parents adjust their approach based on these findings, it might take several weeks to a few months to see meaningful improvements in what teenagers eat. Consistency matters—occasional modeling or teaching is less likely to work than ongoing, regular practice

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly ‘healthy eating moments’ where parents actively model good nutrition or teach about food. For example: count instances of eating fruits/vegetables together, having nutrition conversations, or monitoring what teens eat. Aim for at least 2-3 intentional moments per week and track whether teen’s diet quality improves over 4-8 weeks
  • Set a specific parenting goal based on your teen’s sex: if you have a son, commit to eating healthy foods visibly at family meals and having one nutrition conversation per week. If you have a daughter, involve her father in nutrition teaching and reduce strict food rules while focusing on education instead. Use the app to set reminders for these practices and track consistency
  • Every two weeks, review what healthy eating practices you’ve done and note any changes in your teen’s food choices. Track simple metrics like servings of fruits/vegetables eaten, frequency of fast food, or your teen’s own reports of feeling better. Over 2-3 months, look for patterns in whether your adjusted approach is connecting with your teen’s eating habits

This research shows associations between parenting practices and teen eating habits, but does not prove that changing parenting will definitely improve eating. Results are from Saudi Arabia and may not apply to all cultures or populations. This information is educational and should not replace advice from your pediatrician, registered dietitian, or family healthcare provider. If you have concerns about your teen’s nutrition or eating behaviors, consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Individual results vary based on many factors including genetics, peer influence, school environment, and personal preferences.