Only children are more prone to obesity than those with siblings

Being an only child has advantages and disadvantages, including having a less balanced diet and suffering from excess weight. According to a new study published by Elsevier in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, only children make less healthy choices when it comes to eating or drinking, suggesting that they will be more likely to be overweight or become obese. They also scored lower than children who have siblings in three of the 12 areas of the Healthy Eating Index, the US classification for healthy eating.

According to Chelsea Kracht, lead author of the study, “Nutrition professionals need to consider the influence of family and siblings in order to develop personalized nutrition education for families.” She led the research, aimed at encouraging efforts to help children and families establish healthy eating practices, in collaboration with Dr. Susan Sisson of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (USA). ).

Child nutrition

As part of the study, 68 mothers and their children (27 with only children and 41 from siblings) aged 5 to 7 years, participated in the research. The mothers kept daily food records for three days, including two weekdays and one weekend day, and also completed a family nutrition and physical activity questionnaire. For their part, the teachers of the children concerned noted the food consumed by the children at school.

The researchers found that mothers with one child were more likely to be obese. Additionally, their BMI had a stronger relationship with their offspring’s BMI and waist circumference than their only-child status. The results of the study indicate that a woman’s BMI contributes to the consumption of empty calories in children. As the study only considered women and their children, the contribution of their fathers on dietary habits could not be studied. However, the results did not take marital status into account.

Interestingly, the study found that the time children spent in daycare centers outside the home was unrelated to their eating habits. This meant that the difference came from inside the house. The frequency with which family members ate in front of the television and the frequency with which they consumed sugary drinks could be assessed.

An interior change is needed

According to Chelsea Kracht, eating habits could be made healthier by changes within the household rather than in care settings, as peer exposure does not appear to be an important factor in dietary choices. Now researchers are studying the effects of family equations on children’s eating behavior, physical activity, sleep and other obesity-promoting factors.

Similar results were obtained in a cross-sectional study carried out within the framework of the fifth cycle of “Surveillance and prevention of non-communicable diseases of childhood and adolescence in adults”. He examined the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and single-parent family status. The study, which was conducted among Iranian children and adolescents, found that only children are at greater risk of abdominal obesity.

As this study also suggests, parents need to set an example for their child to eat healthy. An ideal diet should contain more fresh fruits and vegetables. Seafood and poultry are good sources of protein. Children should be encouraged to eat a variety of fruits and dried fruits rather than fruit juices. As for vegetables, the children’s tray should be colored with greens, reds and oranges. Although they are also rich in vitamins and nutrients, fresh vegetables and fruits are preferred over canned and fruit.