Obesity in children

If the mother has normal body weight and healthy living habits, children and adolescents will have an up to 75 percent lower risk of obesity. This is what the results of a study by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the USA suggest. Nearly 17.000 mothers and their 24.000 children aged 9 through 18 participated in the survey. Among other things, the US scientists determined the body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. The BMI gives the ratio of weight (in kg) to height (in m squared). In addition, participants provided questionnaires about their health and diet and lifestyle. Over the next five years, 1.282 adolescents developed one Obesity (Obesity), where the BMI is at least 30. This is questionable because too high body mass promotes the development of other diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Apparently, a healthy lifestyle of the mother causes the offspring less likely to develop obesity. The risk was lowest when all five factors set by the scientists were met: normal body weight, regular exercise, non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and a "healthy" diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, but little red meat and sweetened drinks , Only a body weight in the "normal range" of the mother lowered the child's obesity risk by 56 percent - regardless of age, origin, medical history and social background. The diet of the mother, on the other hand, had no demonstrable influence, according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ). This is probably due to the fact that the diet of girls and boys also depends on other factors such as school meals and the food supply in the living environment.

Since this is a pure observational study, no causal relationships can be demonstrated. However, the results suggest that the mother's lifestyle shapes children's habits and influences their health and body weight at various levels. Therefore, parents should be aware of their role model function.

Heike Kreutz, www.bzfe.de

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