A study conducted at the University of Newcastle has found that while having an obese or overweight mother has little or no impact on a child’s weight, having an overweight or obese father makes a child four times more likely to become obese by the age of eight or nine years.
The study analysed data from 3000 families over a four year period, and looked at the weights of children aged four to five years, and then again between eight and nine years.
Lead researcher Dr Emily Freeman says that while the study did not investigate the reasons behind the link, the results suggest that children are likely to imitate their fathers’ eating and exercise habits.
‘We think it's most likely to be because dads are being models of poor eating and exercise,’ she says.
‘You hear lots of stories about how mums do all the grocery shopping and cook the dinners, and women in general tend to be more knowledgeable about weight, diet and exercise. Mum might buy and prepare fruit and vegetables, but if dad doesn't eat them and eats junk food instead then children decide that's what they will do too.’
The results may help researchers develop strategies to combat the rapidly rising childhood obesity rate in Australia, and Dr Freeman says further study is definitely necessary.
‘These results show we urgently need to test whether treating overweight fathers would be a successful strategy in childhood obesity prevention or treatment,’ she says.
A pilot program currently being undertaken in the NSW Hunter Valley aims to help dads shed the extra weight, and the results will be analysed to determine if paternal weight loss does in fact have an impact on overweight and obese youngsters.
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4 Comments
You must be joking.
Replyabsolute nonsense
ReplyOn assessing this article, one question I have, is that this study had been conducted on 'nuclear family constructs'. What effect do single parent families have on children? This study challenges the 'gender order' way of looking at things. All prominent figures in a child's live are vital for modelling, however I do the shopping in our household (I'm male), eat reasonably healthly, I work full time, exercise and play rugby union. My Son, eats what he wants to, hates school and work and doesn't engage in any Team sports..... more studies needed to convince me I'm afraid!
ReplyI am starting to feel as if men can't do anything right. I suppose it was written by a women that believes women have no short falls. As a man I am tired of being put down by inadequate women who's only aim is to degrade and box all men. By the way, I am a single dad and done a good a job as any women. My kids aren't overweight?
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