Abstract
Parenthood is associated with decreased physical activity and dietary changes. Previously,
mothers have been the focus of studies examining the influence of children on parents’
body mass index (BMI), largely ignoring whether parenting affects fathers. This study
assessed weight gain in mothers and fathers (by birth or other), using longitudinal
repeated-measures models to assess BMI changes over time; parents were compared with
nonparents. Data were from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort
study and included 2,881 black and white adults, ages 18 to 30 years, without children
at baseline (1985-1986), and from four urban locations. At each time point (years
2, 5, and 7), changes in BMI from baseline were analyzed, comparing those who had
their children in their household at that time point (parents) and those without children
(nonparents). The “child effect” is the mean difference in BMI change in parents compared
with nonparents. In fathers, overall, the child effect was not significant (black
males: 0.30; P=0.09; white males: 0.03; P=0.77). Among black men, however, interactions between age and parental status were
significant (P=0.02). Black men who were aged 18 to 24 years at baseline and became fathers during
the next 7 years demonstrated a significant child effect, gaining an average of 0.68
more in BMI than nonfathers (P=0.003). Mothers of both races demonstrated the child effect; for blacks it was 0.65
(P=0.003) and for whites it was 1.12 (P≤0.001). These data reveal that becoming a parent can affect the BMI of some adults
and suggest that obesity-prevention interventions for children and adult-focused healthy-lifestyle
interventions could have additional impact through a family focus targeting both parent
and child outcomes.
Keywords
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Biography
H. H. Laroche is an assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, and an associate investigator, Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City.
Biography
R. B. Wallace is a professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Biography
L. Snetselaar is a professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Biography
S. L. Hillis is a research professor, Department of Biostatistics and Radiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, and a senior biostatistician, Comprehensive Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City.
Biography
X. Cai is an assistant professor, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY; at the time of the study, she was a research assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Biography
L. M. Steffen is an associate professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 19, 2013
Accepted:
May 15,
2013
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This work was supported by a K23 award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (K23HL093354). Work on this manuscript was also supported (or partially supported) by contracts from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Coordinating Center, N01-HC-95095; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Field Center, N01-HC-48047; University of Minnesota, Field Center and Diet Reading Center (Year 20 Exam), N01-HC-48048; Northwestern University, Field Center, N01-HC-48049; Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, N01-HC-48050; University of California, Irvine, Echocardiography Reading Center (Years 5 and 10), N01-HC-45134; Harbor-UCLA Research Education Institute, Computed Tomography Reading Center (Year 15 Exam), N01-HC-05187; Wake Forest University (Year 20 Exam), N01-HC-45205; New England Medical Center (Year 20 Exam), N01-HC-45204. This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Copyright
© 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
