We know: if the abuse of hamburgers, television and the lack of physical activity are well-known causes of obesity in children, sometimes the family climate can also be involved …
This is confirmed by a study conducted by Norwegian researchers and published in the scientific journal British Medical Journal : according to these studies, there is a link between the marital status of parents (married or divorced) and overweight, even obesity in children. “Since 1975, the number of divorces has steadily increased, and a large number of children now live in single-parent families,” explains Dr. Anna Biehl, epidemiologist at Norwegian Institute of Public Health and one of the study’s authors. With this study, we wanted to measure the impact of parental separations on children’s health. ”
To come to this conclusion, the researchers gathered data (height, weight, and waist circumference) on some 3,000 children around 8 years old in 127 Norwegian primary schools, and compared them with the situation of their children. parents.
The result is clear: when parents are divorced, children are 54% more likely than others to become obese or overweight in adulthood. It is little boys who are most affected by obesity when their parents separate: they are 63% more than others at risk of being overweight or obese in adulthood. The difference between the little girls of married couples and those of divorced couples is not as significant …
Marriage does not change anything
“However, our study also shows that it is not the marriage of the parents that prevents obesity in children: indeed, the sons and daughters of couples living in cohabitation do not present more risks of overweight than the others. Added the researchers in a press release.
According to the study, this weight gain in the children of divorced persons could be explained by emotional factors: the stress generated by the situation, but also by a desire to compensate for the grief, or even a possible emotional lack on the part of the parents …
And you, do you think that divorce can promote overweight in children? Come and give your opinion on the forum.
