Having an Obese Dad Increases Risk of Childhood Obesity

Researchers from Australia's University of Newcastle suggest that those children who have fat fathers are more likely to be obese by the time they turn eight years of age as compared to their counterparts who have normal-weight fathers. The conclusion was reached after an extensive study which was conducted during 2004 and 2008 and involved more than 3,000 Australian families.

The researchers observed the children when they were four or five years of age and found that children who had obese fathers were four times more likely to be obese when they are eight years of age compared to children with health fathers.

“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. We think it's most likely to be because dads are being models of poor eating and exercise”, lead researcher Dr Emily Freeman said.


Source-Medindia