Stress in the mother by 18% increases the risk of overweight in the child. The feeling of stress in the first year of a child's life is one of the main risk factors for obesity. Researchers also concluded that girls are particularly affected. The consequences are sometimes reflected in adulthood.
Why does a child increase body weight?
Almost 10% of all children in Russia aged 2 to 6 years are overweight. 3% of them have obesity of 2 degrees. The long-term study involved 498 pairs.
Scientists have found how psychological conditions affect the body weight of children under the age of 5 years. Especially during pregnancy and in the first years of life, children are very sensitive to external influences. Stress factors increase the risk of developing not only obesity, but also diabetes.
The first year of a child’s life is crucial for the subsequent development of the body.
If the mother has a lot of stress at this time, it is likely that the children will become obese. Girls are more likely to suffer from parental discontent than boys. German and Dutch studies show that boys are less likely to respond to maternal stress.
Stress during pregnancy or the second year of a child’s life does not significantly affect weight development in both sexes.
Therefore, mothers should pay special attention in the first year of the baby's life.
Women often complain about noise and scandals in the family. Also unpleasant sensations are caused by the place of residence and low income in the family. Midwives and pediatricians should warn mothers about the harmful effects of stress on children.
Do healthy parents have healthy children?
If parents are healthy and happy with their family life, children are less likely to become seriously ill. This follows from a study by AOK insurance company, which was presented in Berlin.
Children whose parents are very happy with their family life are 17% less likely to develop health problems.
In children of dissatisfied parents, the risk of developing diseases of various nature is 35%.
20% of respondents said their child had several or more complaints per week over the past 6 months. Especially in children under 6 years of age, irritability, difficulty falling asleep, nervousness, abdominal pain, headache, or back pain were observed.
Malaise or drowsiness was much less common. Among them were chronically ill children with asthma or diabetes.
A child who suffers from a chronic illness is mentally and socially more burdened. Healthy children are less likely to have problems in kindergarten or school. They are also less lonely or upset, have more friends and generally feel better.
According to the study, most parents are more or less satisfied with their family life. 93% of mothers and fathers surveyed gave this information.
However, parents living together as a couple (95%) are happier than single people (80%).
Parents are now physically, financially, psychologically and in partnership clearly feeling better than in 2010. The reason for this was also the good economic development over the past 4 years. Since 2014, there has been a general decline in satisfaction with family and social life.
Lack of time is one of the causes of stress for mothers?
About 47% of those surveyed said they experienced stress in their daily lives due to lack of time. Financial difficulties account for 28% of stress cases. Stress due to lack of time is now even one percentage point higher than in 2014.
During the survey, 41% of respondents said that sport is the most important way to reduce mental stress.
However, the survey also shows that parents with young children today have an incredible burden. The combination of work and parenting is an unbearable burden for some mothers. Flexible parents are much better off.
It is important to incorporate rituals into everyday life, such as eating together or talking. In addition, parents should not feel guilty if they devote time to themselves and their partner. Because it directly contributes to the development of stress. Parents need to maintain a pleasant atmosphere in order to positively affect their mental and physical health.
