Kids with Working Moms More Likely to be Overweight
By: Marianne Favro, KNTV
Updated: February 9, 2011
A new study says kids of working moms are at a higher risk for being obese.
A study in the journal Child Development shows the more years moms spend in the work force, the more likely they are to raise chubby children.
Doctors say working moms have to put it in perspective.
"While the study shows that there may be an increase, a very slight increase in weight gain in children in parents who do work that it's not a significant amount of weight gain that would cause actual obesity," says Dr. Claire Del Signore.
One possible reason for the connection: After a long day at work, many moms opt for drive-thru on the drive home.
Dr. Del Signore suggests moms plan meals for the week, use pre-packaged fruits and vegetables and eat together as a family.
"If your child is overweight then changes can be made to help them bring their weight under control and some of those are very simple things such as eliminating fruit juices or soft drinks, changing milk from whole milk to fat free milk," she says.
A study in the journal Child Development shows the more years moms spend in the work force, the more likely they are to raise chubby children.
Doctors say working moms have to put it in perspective.
"While the study shows that there may be an increase, a very slight increase in weight gain in children in parents who do work that it's not a significant amount of weight gain that would cause actual obesity," says Dr. Claire Del Signore.
One possible reason for the connection: After a long day at work, many moms opt for drive-thru on the drive home.
Dr. Del Signore suggests moms plan meals for the week, use pre-packaged fruits and vegetables and eat together as a family.
"If your child is overweight then changes can be made to help them bring their weight under control and some of those are very simple things such as eliminating fruit juices or soft drinks, changing milk from whole milk to fat free milk," she says.
