The
Mother-Child Weight Connection
By Rallie McAllister
As the old saying goes, the apple
doesn’t fall far from the tree. When it comes to predicting
whether or not a child will be overweight as an adult, you don’t
have to look much farther than his mother. Maternal obesity is
the single most important predictor of obesity in children.
Children of overweight moms are
significantly more likely to be overweight themselves than children
of normal-weight moms. While heredity is undoubtedly a critical
factor, it doesn’t necessarily doom a child to a lifetime
of obesity. The home environment in which a child is raised seems
to be just as important as his genes. In fact, the genetic predisposition
to be overweight typically is expressed only when children are
reared in surroundings that are conducive to weight gain.
Fortunately, although moms make
a major contribution to the genetic makeup of their children,
they’re also in charge of creating the home environments
in which their kids are raised. What moms are lacking in terms
of genetic gifts, they can make up in other ways.
Moms: The nutritional gatekeepers
From the beginning of time, mothers have been charged with safeguarding
their families’ nutritional health. Although more moms are
working outside the home than ever before, their traditional role
has changed very little.
With the hectic pace of modern
life, increasing time constraints are making it tougher for working
moms to meet the demands of their role as nutritional gatekeeper
for their families. After a long, exhausting day at work, many
women feel they simply don’t have the time or energy to
prepare delicious, nutritious meals or to supervise their kids’
eating behaviors. Nonetheless, mothers have a unique opportunity
— and a responsibility — to teach their children about
the benefits of sound nutrition.
Nutrition know-how
Before mothers can teach their children about good nutrition,
they must first educate themselves. A recent U.S. Department of
Agriculture study found that the more a mother knows about nutrition,
the less likely her children are to be overweight.
Physical activity
Mothers’ levels of physical activity are strongly correlated
with their children’s weight. The offspring of sedentary
mothers are prone to be inactive themselves, and this lack of
exercise is closely linked to weight control problems.
The good news is that the opposite
is also true: Children of active parents are roughly six times
more likely to be physically active than kids whose parents are
card-carrying couch potatoes.
Early eating
During their early years, children are busy forming attitudes
about foods and developing the eating habits — good or bad
— that will follow them throughout their lives. Food preferences
are firmly established as early as five years of age. For this
reason, the first five years of children’s lives are critical
in terms of providing them with an understanding of what constitutes
a well-balanced diet. It’s also the best time to introduce
them to a wide variety of nutritious foods that they can continue
to eat and enjoy as they grow older.
Moms are role models
Even more important than how a mom manages her child’s diet
is how she manages her own. Children model their own eating behaviors
after both of their parents, but especially their mothers. As
the most influential person in her child’s life, a mother
sets the stage for childhood eating behaviors. Whether they realize
it or not, moms are constantly in the spotlight, providing their
children with a steady stream of information about when, what
and how much to eat.
Kids are quick to pick up and mimic
the environmental cues that trigger eating in the adults around
then, especially their moms. As they continue to grow and develop,
these cues become deeply engrained and cemented. Eventually, children
learn to respond to the same eating cues as their mothers, without
giving them much conscious thought.
Building a healthy partnership
As the most important role models in their children’s lives,
moms must lead by their own, positive examples and encourage their
children to follow suit. By making healthy eating and exercising
habits a team effort, both moms and kids will benefit. Here are
some suggestions to help you build a partnership with your child.
Learn
together. Take a trip to your local library and
check out books on nutrition that are geared for moms, kids or
both. Take a look at nutrition labels and discuss the ingredients
and nutrient values of your favorite foods.
Shop
together. Going to the grocery store can be a
fun and educational mother-child adventure. Allow your child to
help you shop by choosing a few nutritious snacks or a favorite
fruit or vegetable.
Prepare
food together. Invite your child into the kitchen
to help you prepare nutritious meals and snacks. Encourage her
to help you plan meals with good nutrition in mind.
Eat
together. Turn off the television, sit down at
the table and make meals and snacks relaxed, positive affairs.
Exercise
together. Make fitness a fun by joining your child
in a game of tag or a walk around the block. The more your child
enjoys exercising, the more often he’ll do it.
© Rallie McAllister
Book Selection:
Healthy
Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide
to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim
Rallie McAllister, M.D., the author
of Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You
and Your Kids Trim (LifeLine Press, September 2003), runs
a family practice specializing in nutrition, wellness and weight
loss called Healthy Solutions in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. McAllister
is the creator and popular host of Rallie On Health,
a health magazine TV show with more than 1 million viewers in
the five-state area of eastern Tennessee. Millions across the
country also know her for her weekly nationally syndicated column,
"Your Health by Dr. Rallie McAllister." Dr. McAllister
lives with her husband and three children in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Visit Rallie at www.rallieonhealth.com.
