Why being a working Mom puts your child at risk of childhood obesity

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How to protect your child from childhood obesity

working mom serving dinner a little later

It’s got nothing to do with dietary habits, meal time routines, frequency of family meals, time spent watching TV or physical activity, the problem is….

You’re a working Mom.

Maybe it’s a case of YOU HAVE TO, there are bills to pay etc. In you fantasy life, you’d be a stay at home Mom.
Maybe YOU LOVE IT, you’re smart, sassy and capable and enjoy “having” it ALL.

No matter the situation, your job impacts your family.

And, when it comes to your little’s ones weight – statistics suggest, your kid is more likely to have weight issues.

Since “fat” kids …

Become “fat” adults
Are at risk of multiple health issues, both as kids and as grown ups
Are often mercilessly teased and stigmatized

This is an impact, you want to eliminate.

You’re a GOOD mom

As a working Mom, you’re making sure that you are creating a fabulous home life. You buy healthy foods, prepare healthy meals, insist on “family” time etc.

In a nut shell – you’re working hard to do everything “right”.

And you do it “right”, most days at least.

Because……………….

Underneath you’re “SUPER WOMEN”.

Seriously, you are.

It is really hard to juggle a job and a family. And, all the effort is seldom acknowledged or complimented.

But, your child is still at risk of obesity. Why ?

A day in the life……..

Researchers from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, wanted to know, why maternal employment, was an obesity risk. So, they asked 247 Moms of tots, attending day care facilities, exactly what was happening on the home front every day and they correlated these findings with their child’s “weight” (BMI).

In the group of Moms surveyed….

Most of the Moms worked full time jobs i.e. they spent more than 35 hours a week, working for THE MAN. The remaining Moms ranged from the classic “stay at home” Mom, all the way through to Moms, working just under 35 hours a week.

Ultimately, the Moms were classified into one of three categories…

Within the group of pre-schoolers, 17 % were overweight and 12 % were obese.

All moms do it “RIGHT”

All three groups of Moms were working hard, being Moms.

There was no difference in

Dietary habits
Meal time routines
Frequency of family meals
Time spent watching TV
Physical activity

The only difference between the three groups, was how long junior spent in bed.

And, as it turned out, this mattered……………..

Working Moms are time crunched

To fit everything in, working Moms experience LONGER DAYS.

And…………………. kids of working moms, end up experiencing LONGER DAYS.

Sometimes, it is an earlier start, to ensure Mom arrives on time for work.
Sometimes, it is a later bed time, because the evening rituals of making dinner and bathing are delayed.

The LONGER DAYS…………… mean SHORTER NIGHTS.

Less sleep is the trigger for obesity.

Protect your little one

By “watching” the length of their day….

Now that you’re aware, this is an issue, I am sure, you can find ways to adjust your routine, so they get the longest night possible.

NOTE :If you face serious BEDTIME RESISTANCE – it’s not inevitable, it’s biology and it can be fixed. Click here to find out how to “Avoid the bedtime blues by synchronizing your child’s clock with the clock on the wall”.

Sleep, but not other daily routines, mediates the association between maternal employment and BMI for preschool children. Sleep Medicine (2014) 15(12):1590-3. Katherine E. Speirs, Janet M. Liechty, Chi-Fang Wu.