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Fathers can help in preventing obesity, says new Canadian study
Posted on: 06/Jul/2016 9:57:34 AM
A new study has found that parents, especially fathers, play a vital role in developing healthy behaviours in young adults and helping to prevent obesity in their children. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada. It was published in the Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.
The researchers say that young adults who grew up in stable families with quality parental relationships were more likely to have healthy diet, activity and sleep behaviours, and were less likely to be obese. They also found that the mother-son relationship mattered far less than the relationship between father and son when it came to predicting whether a young male will become overweight or obese.
Say the researchers, Much of the research examining the influence of parents has typically examined only the mother`s influence or has combined information across parents. Our results underscore the importance of examining the influence fathers have on their children and to develop strategies to help fathers support the development of healthy behaviours among their children.
More than 3,600 females and 2,600 males were studied as part of the project. All of the participants were between the ages of 14 and 24 years. About 80 per cent of the group said they had high family function, High family function is defined by how well the family managed daily routines, and how family members fulfilled their roles and connected emotionally.
Six out of 10 females and about half of the males said that they had high quality relationships with both their parents. Researchers said, High family functioning and quality family relationships were associated with lower odds of eating disorders, more frequent physical activity and more sleep. Females in these families also reported eating less fast food, and were less likely to be overweight or obese. Among males, father relationship quality had a greater impact on their odds of being overweight or obese. It appears the father-son parent relationship has a stronger influence on sons than the mother-daughter relationship has on young women. In general, the findings show the importance of family behaviours and relationships on the health of young adults from an early age.
Researchers also said, These can be powerful determinants of weight and related behaviours. A high level of family dysfunction may interfere with the development of healthful behaviours due to the families? limited ability to develop routines related to eating, sleep or activity behaviours, which can lead to excess weight gain.
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