I was struck by a study that has been published recently in the journal "Hospital Nutrition" and has analyzed the "Influence of the family environment on the development of overweight and obesity in a population of schoolchildren in Granada. "
It was intended, among other issues, to check if there is a direct relationship between the nutritional status of the children and who is the person who makes the family menu.
The news published in the press refers to the fact that if it was the mother who prepared the children's main menu, there was less chance that the children would be overweight or obese, although it was not specified as to what other persons responsible for preparing the meal.
That is why I have looked for the study, and in it I have been able to confirm that in the case of the variable of who makes the family daily menu, the results obtained form the existence of a statistically significant association between who was the person in charge of preparing the main menu of the day and the nutritional status of the children.
In the cases in which the mothers prepare the main meal, the scores in the index of the body mass of their children are much lower than when it is the father who makes the family menu. That is, among the students participating in the study there were more obese and overweight if the father was in charge of preparing the food.
Stresses the role of the father in front of "others" responsible for preparing such food and grandmother, at a level very similar in terms of possibilities for children to be overweight (just a little more than in the case of the menu prepared by the mother) .
We do not know if in that "others" there are school canteens, I imagine so, and it is reassuring to see that they are not associated with a high body mass index in children (it would be proof that healthy and balanced menus are sought).
Paternal studies and sedentary lifestyle also influence
Other conclusions are drawn from the study, although previously demonstrated, no less interesting or worthy of a reminder.
For example we see a clear relationship between sedentary leisure practice and body mass index values: as the number of hours children watch television, play video games or are connected to the Internet increases, their body mass index scores increase exponentially.
The educational level of the parents It is also associated with the children's body mass index, especially in the case of the mother: there is an inversely proportional and statistically significant association between their educational level and the nutritional status of their children.
This circumstance takes its highest level of significance in those cases in which the mother has higher education (less chance that the children are overweight).
How the study was developed
This study has been prepared by scientists from the University of Granada by observing a sample of 718 school children and adolescents between 9 and 17 years of age, belonging to thirteen public and private schools in the city of Granada and its Province.
Through the use of anthropometry techniques, the variables of weight and height of the subjects and, with it, the body mass index, were made according to age and sex.
Six skin folds were also assessed, as well as four body perimeters of the waist, hip, arm and thigh to measure body mass.
On the other hand, and in order to analyze the influence of the family environment on the development of overweight and obesity among the student population, the scientists of the University of Granada used a questionnaire specifically developed by the research team.
It not only collected information related to aspects of their family environment, such as who makes the children's menu, but also the frequency of consumption of certain foods and the practice of some physical activity.
Conclusions
It is shown that at greater parental education level, less chance of children suffering from overweight or obesity. What is not so clear is whether this influence of paternal formation goes beyond 10 years or not. Anyway, it is those first years of life where the main health habits are established.
A direct relationship between sedentary leisure and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the youngest.
On the other hand, as the family menu is prepared by people other than the mother, the nutritional status of the children worsens considerably.
If we compare fathers, mothers, grandmothers and "others" as preparers of the children's menu, the mother stands out as the best connoisseur of healthy habits and nutritional needs of the children. There are previous studies that also indicate that the mother is the best prepared, in terms of food knowledge, for the preparation and maintenance of an optimal family diet.
By cons, it is the father who is most likely to favor childhood obesity if he is the one who makes the food. There will of course be notable exceptions, and as we say many other factors influence childhood overweight.
I know a few parents equal or better prepared than their women to handle the children's menu and with children without weight problems. Although also to some who prefer to use Pre-cooked when they have to be responsible for family food, but these cases would be sporadic. That is, if these parents took care of making the food for the children every day, would they always use this type of food?
