Childrens Obesity Linked to Parents Weight

A child with two obese parents may have a substantially higher risk of becoming obese – a mom’s weight playing a particularly important role according to research just published. A team of UK researchers found that among over 7,000 children aged 2 to 15; those who had two obese parents were 12 times more likely to be obese than children with two normal weight parents. These numbers factored in things like socioeconomic status and ethnicity when reviewing childrens obesity.

A mother’s weight showed a very strong association with a child’s weight.

This is not the first study to connect a parent’s obesity to a kid’s risk. And it’s not the first to highlight the role of a mothers’ weight on a child’s risk.

What sets this work apart is that the researchers aren’t relying on self reports, they have measurements of weight and height – objective data that makes for stronger research conclusions.

The study involved data from 4,432 UK families who took part in a yearly national health survey in the years between 2001 and 2006. A nurse associated with the study measured each subjects’ weight and height. Subjects were classified as normal, overweight, obese or severely obese based on the calculation of body mass index.

In 38% of the families, at least one parent was obese; another 8% had two obese parents. Just 14% of families had two normal weight parents, and in these families child obesity was uncommon, at a rate of about 2%.

In families with two obese parents, 22% of kids were also obese. When both parents fell into the severely obese category, 35% of these children were obese. The weight of both father and mother was also connected to the kid’s risk of being obese. Of those with an obese father, 12% (compared to 4% of those with normal weight fathers) were obese themselves; while an obese mother had 14% (3% of those with normal weight mothers) of her children also being obese.

Using statistics to control for the other parent’s weight, they found that the mothers’ weight showed a statistically stronger association with a child’s status than did the fathers.

It may be that a mother’s diet and weight during pregnancy accounts for the stronger impact, especially since this period is thought to set a child’s future appetite regulation and weight. Mom also typically takes control over a child’s diet.

The number of overweight kids in the U.S. is also growing – with 1 out of 3 kids considered either overweight or obese. The reasons are many – more time in front of the TV, computer or video games, less time for busy families to prepare nutritious meals cooked at home.

The researchers suggest that their findings highlight the importance of early intervention to prevent the transmission of obesity from one generation to the next.

If you have concerns, talk with your child’s doctor who can give you a realistic assessment. Parents with high BMIs need to be aware of the risk of their children’s obesity, and try to encourage healthy eating and regular exercise. This isn’t easy, but if you look at the serious health conditions that added weight might bring to your child, you may just find the motivation to make your children do what you can’t.

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