A wide-ranging study by researchers at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne, Australia, strongly suggests that the habits of, and problems faced by parents in their adolescence and prenatally can have a serious negative impact on their children…
Fat parents tend to raise fat kids. Now, we may know why…
Researchers discovered that issues such as depression and, especially, weight management challenges, can be passed down to children from their parents. However, this effect can be minimized if future parents address their issues in their formative teen years, or at least, before pregnancy is established.
Study lead author Professor George Patton says: “The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucially important, but that is too late to be taking action.”
Young women and men often carry lifestyle and health risks from adolescence into pregnancy, they added, even if this happens in their 20s or 30s. Current research suggests that physical and neurological growth continues into the 20s. The paper postulates that this, combined with social changes such as the later adoption of adult roles, meant adolescence should be considered to range between ages 10 and 24.
The study highlights obesity…
The paper brings together data from around 200 countries and from more than 140 recent independent research papers and highlights three main areas for action in adolescence: mental health, obesity and substance abuse.
There is a rapid increase in obesity in adolescence and young adulthood, according to the authors. Maternal obesity during pregnancy predicts later childhood obesity, poorer cognitive skills and greater [risk of] childhood behavioural problems.
“Today’s adolescents will be the largest generation to become parents in human history. We need to invest in their physical, social and emotional development to guarantee not only their own future health but that of their children,” Patton says.
The takeaway…
Parents should encourage their adolescent kids to adopt better health and diet habits before they ‘grow up’ and consider starting families., Otherwise, they may pass on their issues – especially obesity – to their children. Even at the point pregnancy is established, it may be too late to start providing a good example.
~ Maggie J.