New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Fathers' involvement may help prevent childhood obesity

Date:
June 21, 2017
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
Fathers are becoming more involved with raising children, but limited research has examined their association with childhood obesity.
Share:
FULL STORY

Fathers are becoming more involved with raising children, but limited research has examined their association with childhood obesity. In a recent study, fathers' increased involvement with child caregiving was linked with a decreased likelihood that their children would become obese from age 2 to 4.

In the study, which used data from a survey conducted in a nationally representative sample of children in the United States, increases in fathers' participation in physical child care (such as bathing and dressing children) and the frequency that they took children outside for walks and playtime were linked with a decreased likelihood of obesity in their young children.

The findings suggest that encouraging fathers to increase their involvement with raising children and including fathers in childhood obesity prevention efforts may help reduce obesity risk among young children.

"There is growing evidence of the importance of fathers' involvement in raising children in other areas of children's development, and our study suggests that there may be benefits to child health as well," said Dr. Michelle Wong, lead author of the Obesity study. "While due to data limitations we could only consider the involvement of fathers, it is also important to understand the relative caregiving involvement of both mothers and fathers."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Michelle S. Wong, Jessica C. Jones-Smith, Elizabeth Colantuoni, Roland J. Thorpe, Sara N. Bleich, Kitty S. Chan. The longitudinal association between early childhood obesity and fathers' involvement in caregiving and decision-making. Obesity, 2017; DOI: 10.1002/oby.21902

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Fathers' involvement may help prevent childhood obesity." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170621082800.htm>.
Wiley. (2017, June 21). Fathers' involvement may help prevent childhood obesity. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 12, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170621082800.htm
Wiley. "Fathers' involvement may help prevent childhood obesity." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170621082800.htm (accessed December 12, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES