Grandparents do not always set a good example for their grandchildren when it comes to hygiene. At least that’s what a new study from the University of Glasgow, Scotland reveals. Published in the journal Plos One, works suggest that seniors tend to transmit habits unhealthy lives for grandchildren. To arrive at this observation, the researchers looked at several key areas of influence for health: diet and weight; physical activity and passive smoking. To do this, the Scots looked at data from 56 studies from 18 countries, including the UK, US, China and Japan.
The results show that Grand parentsare inclined to feed their grandchildren unbalanced with foods that are generally too high in sugars or fats. The latter would not be encouraged enough to exercise, according to the researchers. But too many treats and not enough activity promote weight gain in young people generations, warn researchers.
The academics warn against an increased risk of cancer because of this hygiene of life, the more so as a third parameter invites itself in the balance: tobacco.
Grandparents tend to be second-hand smoke when they smoke at home, which can cause children to smoke later.
Raising awareness among grandparents
Researchers believe that grandparents are not sufficiently informed about public health recommendations for children. Awareness efforts must be made on the part of the health authorities. “The role they play in children’s lives needs to be better recognized and supported, Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK, cited by the bbc and who partially funded the study. We would like more efforts to be made to ensure that the information parents have on children’s health also reaches grandparents “. And to conclude: “As smoking and obesity are the two main preventable causes of cancer in the UK, it is important that the whole family works together”.
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