Being a mom is tough. If your kid misbehaves, people tend to assume that your parenting is the issue - despite the fact that you can't exercise mind control over your child and force him to do your bidding at all times. But if your child is overweight or obese, new research shows that dad's influence may actually have more to do with your child's poor eating habits.

According to EurekAlert, Texas AgriLife Research recently conducted a study in which it asked families to record what and where they ate on a daily basis. The researchers discovered that when kids where spending time in fast food eateries or snacking on unhealthy munchies, it was usually with their dads - not with their moms. They theorize that it may be because moms are more likely to tell kids what they're getting for dinner, while dads are more likely to indulge children's desires.

The solution? Dads need to be a little firmer about telling kids they can't have cake for dinner five days a week, says Dr. Alex McIntosh, an AgriLife Research sociologist.

"Traditionally, academics have blamed mothers for everything that goes wrong with children, especially when it comes to food," he continued. "But I think it's pretty clear that fathers have a substantial influence over what children are eating. And if that's the case, then they need to be the target of education just like mothers."

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