BOSTON: Children of mothers who follow a healthy lifestyle have a substantially lower risk of developing obesity, according to a study.
The findings, published in The BMJ, show that risk was lowest among children whose mothers maintained a healthy weight, exercised regularly, did not smoke, ate a healthy diet, and were light to moderate drinkers.
The researchers, including those from the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health in the US, suggest that if both mothers and their children stuck to a healthy lifestyle, this could result in an even further reduction in the risk of childhood obesity.
Obesity in childhood is associated with an increased risk of several disorders, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as premature death, in adulthood.
The researchers examined medical history and lifestyle characteristics of 24,289 children aged 9-14 years who were born to 16,945 women in two US studies.
Participants completed detailed questionnaires about their medical history and lifestyle, including body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels and diet. Mothers were also asked about their alcohol intake and smoking history.
Based on this information, the researchers calculated the risk of obesity for each child, using BMI measurements. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
