Parents, take note! Experiencing family stress throughout childhood may make kids obese by the time they turn 18, a new study has warned.

The study from the University of Houston researchers suggests there is a relationship between long-term exposure to three specific types of family stressors and children becoming obese by the time they turn 18 years old.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth in US, Assistant Professor Daphne Hernandez examined three family stress points - family disruption, financial stress and maternal poor health - and applied those to data of more than 4,700 adolescents born between 1975 and 1990.

"Experiencing family stress - specifically family disruption and financial stress - repeatedly throughout childhood was associated with overweight or obesity by the time adolescent girls turned 18," Hernandez said.

Interestingly, only one chronic family stress point - maternal poor health - was related to boys becoming overweight or obese by the time they turned 18.

"Overall, the findings suggest that female and male adolescents respond differently to stress. This study extends our knowledge of stress and obesity by focusing on the family environment over time," said Hernandez.

"By knowing the types of stressors that influence female and male adolescent weight gain, we can tailor specific social services to be included in obesity prevention programmes," she said.

Hernandez said the findings are important particularly to school-based obesity prevention programmes that currently focus on dietary intake and physical activity, which she says yield only short-term benefits.

"These programmes need to take a broader approach to combatting obesity by helping families experiencing these kinds of stressors find access to mental health programmes, financial assistance or family counselling," she said.

"Developing strategies to help with family stressors during childhood may help children maintain healthy weight into adulthood," said Hernandez.

The finding was published in the journal Preventive Medicine.