| The idea that working moms may well play a | | | | n=1,889) born to mothers under age 30 years to |
| noticeable role in the development of childhood | | | | establish whether risk factors for childhood |
| obesity is indeed one that is suggested by Angela | | | | obesity have changed over time (1965-1991). |
| Pinot de Moira and colleagues from University | | | | The authors found that the prevalence of |
| College London, UK, in a paper just published online | | | | overweight/obesity had increased by more than |
| in the American Journal of Epidemiology. | | | | 50% between generations and that parental BMI |
| The premise is simple: one of the most dramatic | | | | was strongly associated with offspring BMI. |
| demographic shifts in the last decades has been | | | | But perhaps more interestingly, full-time maternal |
| the proportion of moms that work. From being | | | | employment turned out to be positively |
| the exception in the 60s, to becoming pretty | | | | associated with offspring BMI in childhood with an |
| much the norm for the majority of mothers | | | | increase of 0.4-0.5 units in kids with working |
| today, this demographic shift has undoubtedly had | | | | moms. This relationship was in fact stronger in the |
| profound effects on family life. | | | | offspring than in the original cohort. |
| Not surprisingly, some have argued, that not | | | | Maternal employment was found to have |
| having a parent at home (and traditionally this | | | | increased by more than 30% across generations, |
| used to be the mom) may very much increase | | | | as a result of which, the population attributable |
| the risk of weight gain in offspring. | | | | risk maternal employment increased from 3.1% to |
| Thus, not only do "latchkey kids" have more | | | | 7.8% across generations. |
| freedom to eat unhealthy foods and spend | | | | In addition, the authors noted that smaller family |
| afternoons slumped in front of the TV or | | | | size and fewer younger siblings were also |
| computer, but long hours at work can also leave | | | | associated with increased childhood BMI. |
| moms (or dads) short of time to prepare healthy | | | | As argued by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia |
| family meals (ergo the dramatic rise in fast food | | | | Warren Tyagi in their bestseller "The Two Income |
| and family restaurants). | | | | Trap: Why Middle-Class Mothers and Fathers Are |
| In addition, working mothers (or dads) may also | | | | Going Broke", even if all kinds of issues may be |
| have to drive their children to school rather than | | | | linked to working moms, simply asking moms to |
| have the time to walk them there and working | | | | stay at home is neither feasible nor socially |
| parents certainly don't have the time to watch | | | | desirable (incidentally, both authors are working |
| over their kids on the playground all afternoon or | | | | moms). |
| be at home in case their kids scrape a leg falling | | | | Rather, other measures, including proper and |
| off their bikes or get beaten up by the | | | | affordable day care, accessible and supervised |
| neighborhood bully. | | | | after-school activities and more flexibility in |
| So is this hypothesis borne out by the data? | | | | working hours may help moms (and dads) better |
| To address this question, the authors examined | | | | meet the demands of their kids, thereby hopefully |
| members of a 1958 British birth cohort (age 7 | | | | reducing their risk for obesity. |
| years, n=8,552) and offspring (ages 4-9 years, | | | | |