Divorce likely to put weight on children, study finds

By ITS Education Asia

“Children whose parents are divorced are more likely to get fat than those whose parents stay together, say researchers,” according to recent research reported on by the BBC. The study found that the effect is most pronounced on children under six.

The paper suggests a range of reasons why children might put on weight after a divorce, both economic and non-economic, including:

• less money in separated households for fresh fruit and vegetables
• parents having to work more hours, leaving less time to prepare nutritious food
• less money for extra-curricular activities, including sport
• parents with less time and energy to establish healthy eating habits in their children
• emotional problems leading to parents who overfeed and children who eat too much sugary and fatty food

This research brings to our attention one more thing people should be aware of with children involved in a family breakup.