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Children who are looked after by their grandparents are receiving an overwhelming amount of love and apparently an overwhelming amount of food too. A new study report published in the International Journal of Obesity, found that kids who are looked after by their grandparents are more likely to be overweight than kids cared for by childminders or parents.
The study was based on data from 12,000 children. Researchers discovered that, compared with kids cared for solely by their parents, kids looked after by grandparents part-time, were 15% more likely to be overweight. When grandparents were full-time carers, the chance of a child being overweight went up by 34%.
When children start gaining extra weight it may seem innocent enough with most parents calling it baby fat. But, there is nothing minor about the childhood obesity rate; the issue has become a national epidemic. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2007, nearly half of US children are either overweight or obese. A team of US doctors is urging parents to start screening children at a younger age and note that children with weight problems become overweight before age two. The critical period for preventing childhood obesity is in the first two years of life and for many by three months of age. Having good health insurance is key to keeping children in good health. This will ensure children have access to regular checkups and medical advice.
The study did not examine the reason children who are cared for by grandparents are often fatter. However, some believe it’s because grandparents are more indulgent with snacks and other high calorie foods while parents are often more knowledgeable about healthy eating. This is such an important issue because kids who are overweight are more likely to develop health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. The cost of medical insurance will also be affected for those who are overweight. Health insurance companies often view overweight individuals as a greater risk and will increase the cost of health coverage.
Tags: health insurance, medical insurance, obesity
