SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Working moms, roll up your sleeves and get ready for another dose of guilt. A new study suggests the more time you spend on the job, the heavier your kids will be. The research comes from American, and Cornell Universities, and the University of Chicago.
But dietician, Kary Woodruff, from Intermountain’s Orthopedic Specialty Hospital says don't heap on the guilt quiet so fast. “There are some points in there that are important to address, but it’s more multi-factorial than it presents."
For example, she says the study failed to take in to account the socio-economic background of the children; and families with less income may struggle more to provide nutritionally balanced meals. "Is the mother working because she has to, or because she chooses to?"
The study of 900 school-age children did show an increase in body mass index that creeps upward the longer the mother is employed. Third graders with working moms gained 1.5 to two pounds more in a year than what is considered normal, fifth and sixth graders even more. Woodruff says it's important to look at all environmental factors.
"It's a little risky to just draw a cause and effect so if a mother works more then she is more apt to have an overweight child."
Woodruff says what can't be ignored is importance of both parents modeling good eating habits, and to providing appropriate after school snacks and meals. "If there are chips in the cup board the children are probably going to eat those chips, but there are still healthy snacks like pretzels and veggies and hummus and other options that we can provide for our children."
She says parents who struggle with busy work schedules and family life should think beyond fast food options. “Keep in mind that at super markets there are also really healthy options in the deli bars. You can get fresh sandwiches and wraps and healthier prepared meals that may not have as high fat content.” Woodruff also recommends cooking extra food and putting it in the freezer for those harried evenings. “Try to make large portions of soups and stews and meals that you can make and freeze and then have for a week.”
Despite the study results, she says mothers should not be overwhelmed by the research. She says instead, make small healthy changes where necessary.” Sometimes we think, well, I go to the fast food restaurant and I order milk instead of soda, that’s just one thing it’s not going to make a big difference but it all adds up. If we look at it as I have to change my whole life, and I have to change everything I am doing now, that seems incredibly overwhelming, so then it seems almost insurmountable.”
Woodruff says physical activity is also an important part of curbing the obesity trend, and she says there is less of it in schools than there used to be. Physical education cuts and recess reductions have led to more sedentary children.
For more information about childhood obesity go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/childobesity.html
