Impulsive Kids More Prone to Weight Gain

One study offered children a reward for delaying their gratification, and still, 47 percent of the 805 kids who participated were unable to wait. The second study asked kids to sit alone in a room with a toy for 150 seconds. If they were able to wait at least 75 seconds, they "passed the test." Both studies showed that kids who failed were more likely to be over-weight by the age of 11 or 12.

OK, first of all -- duh. It makes total sense that kids who can't keep their hands out of the cookie jar are more prone to obesity. But don't most kids grow out of that kind of behavior? JustAnswer psychiatry expert and Denver psychotherapist Nancy Brooks says that true impulsivity is a clinical condition that goes beyond not being able to wait for a treat. An impulsive child, she says, does not think their decisions through and also ignores the consequences.

"An impulsive child, therefore, does whatever pops into their head, ignoring red flags for poor choices," she explains. "This behavior becomes cyclical, simply doing whatever comes to mind to fix bad situations, as well. Children who are impulsive tend to carry these traits into adulthood ... from simple choices like "what's for dinner, I'm starving," to life-changing decisions [like] "let's start a family."

That's the bad news. The good news is that parents can model good choices for their kids, and it's never too late -- or too early -- to start doing so. Say that a mom and a child are home late, and both are starving, Brooks says. Mom plans to make a healthy dinner, but the two want to eat something small now so they don't over-eat at dinner time.

"Mom should discuss, out loud, what immediate choices they have: Snack-cakes, donuts, cookies and so on," says Brooks. "Verbally acknowledge that while those choices are quick, easy and filling, the reason those are poor choices are obvious. The better choice is to eat something they could eat with their meal, like some vegetables or a salad."

One key treatment of impulsivity is to either delay gratification, Brooks says, or to satisfy it with a positive alternative. If you fear your child exhibits clinical impulsivity, you can still take steps to curb that behavior. Brooks advises parents whose at-home measures don't make a difference to seek counseling with a trained cognitive-behavior therapist, who can work on both thoughts and behaviors. They can also help implement specific "interventions" based on the individual child's needs.

I know my kid doesn't always make the best choices, consequences be damned. And sometimes it's easier to let things go -- especially when our parenting days are hectic. But if taking a harder line and showing her how to be more patient can give her a healthier future, it's worth a little bit of inconvenience.

Are you a "gotta have it now" kind of person, and do your kids follow suit?