Children who are regularly looked after by their grandparents are more likely to be overweight and obese, according to a large-scale British study reported by the International Journal of Obesity.
Scientists from the University Collegium in London came to such conclusions after analyzing the data collected in a group of 12 thousand people. three-year-olds.
It turned out that the children who were taken care of by their grandparents for most of the day were 34 percent. more likely to be overweight than their peers under constant parental care. When grandparents looked after their grandchildren part-time, the risk of being overweight increased by 15%.
However, this concerned mainly children from the most privileged socio-economic groups, i.e. those whose mothers held a managerial position, had a good job or had a good education, or lived with a partner.
Children attending nursery and kindergarten and having a nanny were not more likely to experience problems with unnecessary kilograms than their peers under parental care.
Prof. Catherine Law points out that her team did not investigate why caring for grandparents put children at risk of gaining weight, but most likely it has to do with indulgence towards grandchildren and neglect of their physical activity.
This work demonstrates the importance of educating caregivers, especially grandparents, about the importance of physical activity and the formation of healthy eating habits in children, the researchers conclude. (PAP)