the study , which was published in the american journal of clinical nutrition , said poor dietary habits that obese children learn at home are the main cause of their weight problems .
the team analyzed dietary pattern established by children were to vanish overnight .
those classified as following a " prudent diet " ate brett smith for redorbit.com – your universe online a new study author barry popkin , a professor of nutrition at unc ’s gillings school of global public health .
the authors of the latest research combed through a national database of americans ' health and nutrition behaviors and grouped 4,466 american kids -- from ages 2 to 18 - -according to what they ate when they were not eating food purchased at a fast - food restaurant .
because if you shut off the supply of 24 - ounce fountain drinks , bacon cheeseburgers , fried chicken and stuffed tacos , the children who frequently eat at fast - food restaurants will go home and do what they generally do when not eating at a fast - food restaurant : they 'll snarf cookies and chips , chug sugar - sweetened soda from a bottle , and heat up frozen pizzas .
just because children who eat more fast food are the most likely to become obese does not prove that calories from fast foods bear the brunt of the blame .
the obese children ’s diet often includes too few fruits and vegetables and too much processed food and overly - sweet beverages .
the answer is very likely no , says a study published thursday in the american journal of clinical nutrition .
related : foods that affect your risk of cancer participants were designated " western diet " consumers if their consumption from non - fast - food sources was relatively high in saturated fats and added sugars .