Fathers can help prevent obesity in kids: study

Toronto: Parents, especially fathers, play a vital role in developing healthy behaviours in young adults and helping to prevent obesity in their children, a new study has found.

Researchers found 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. When it came to predicting whether a young male will become overweight or obese, researchers found that the mother-son relationship mattered far less than the relationship between father and son.

"Much of the research examining the influence of parents has typically examined only the mother's influence or has combined information across parents," said Jess Haines from University of Guelph in Canada. "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," said Haines.

Researchers studied more than 3,700 females and more than 2,600 males, all aged 14-24. Among both males and females, 80 per cent said they had
high family function, defined by how well the family managed daily routines, and how family members fulfilled their roles and connected emotionally, researchers said.

In all, six out of 10 females and half of males reported high-quality relationships with their parents. High family functioning and quality family relationships
were associated with lower odds of eating disorders, more frequent physical activity and more sleep, researchers said. Females in these families also reported eating less fast food, and were less likely to be overweight or obese, they said.

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," said Haines. "In general, the findings show the importance of family
behaviours and relationships on the health of young adults from an early age," she added.

According to her, 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," said Haines. The findings were published in the Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.