India Health & Wellness blog

Working mums have less healthy babies

29th September, 2009 - Posted by admin -

Kids of working mothers are less healthy than those who stay at home, according to a new study.

The study, which was conducted by Institute of Child Health on more than 12,500 five-year-olds, has been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Child Health.

In the study, the researchers found children whose mothers worked were more likely to be driven to school, to watch more than two hours of TV a day, and have sweetened drinks between meals, reports The BBC.

They also found that although children whose mothers worked full time ate less fruit and vegetables, the link disappeared when looking at mothers who worked part-time.

However, there was no difference between working mothers and non-working mothers on the level of exercise a child took or whether they mainly snacked on crisps and sweets between meals.

Professor Catherine Law, who led the study, said: “For many families the only parent or both parents will be working.

“Time constraints may limit parents” capacity to provide their children with healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.

“Our results do not imply that mothers should not work.

“Rather they highlight the need for policies and programmes to help support parents.”