New Dads Tend To Gain Weight After Birth Of First Child – Study

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New fathers are more likely to add weight after the birth of their first child research has shown.

Fatherhood is likely to make you fat, scientists have discovered. Experts tracked 10,000 men for two decades, through their teens and their twenties and into their early thirties. They found that people who became dads were significantly more likely to put on weight in the years after their first child was born.

Men who had no children in comparison actually lost weight the team found. The researchers, whose work is published in the American Journal of Men’s Health said fathers weight gain puts them at higher risk of health problems.

Study leader Dr Craig Garfield of Northwestern University in Chicago, said: ‘The more weight the fathers gain and the higher their body mass index, the greater risk they have for developing heart disease as well as diabetes and cancer.’

The research did not look at the reasons behind the link between weight and parenthood but Dr Garfield said changing lifestyle is likely to play a part. ‘You have new responsibilities when you have your kids and may not have time to take care of yourself the way you once did in terms of exercise,’ he said. ‘Your family becomes the priority.’

Eating habits may also change as families buy children’s treats such as ice cream and cookies, he said. Above all though, fathers become prone to clearing their children’s plates. ‘We all know dads who clean their kids’ plates after every meal,’ Dr Garfield said.

Dr Garfield said children’s doctors should start to warn new fathers about the risk to their health. ‘New dads are coming into the health care system as a paediatric chaperone,’ he said. ‘This is an opportunity to talk about things that are important for dads’ health and the child’s health and to offer dads nutritional counselling and mental health education. We now realise the transition to fatherhood is an important developmental life stage for men’s health. It’s a magical moment where so many things change in a man’s life. Now the medical field needs to think about how can we help these men of child-rearing age who often don’t come to the doctor’s office for themselves.’