Dr. Molly Martin and her colleagues collected information on 2,500 pairs of twins, siblings, or half-siblings in order to determine what non-genetic factors influence whether a child is overweight. They found that certain aspects of a family's lifestyle, such as sitting down for regular meals together and being physically active during leisure hours, can help keep children slim, regardless of the family's education, socioeconomic levels, or the children's birth weights.
"Not skipping meals seems to be the biggest factor in weight control," Dr. Martin said. "When you miss a meal, you are more likely to overeat later." The other biggest factor was how much time the family spent watching television or playing video games.
This study appeared in the Journal of American Sociology.
Labels: causes of childhood obesity, skipping_meals, TV
Posted By: Aspen Education Group
