Family Routines Linked to Lower Childhood Obesity

A new study suggests that preschool-aged children are likely to have a lower risk for obesity if they regularly engage in one or more of three specific household routines: eating dinner as a family, getting adequate sleep, and limiting their weekday television viewing time.

Researchers at Ohio State University (Columbus, USA) and Temple University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) analyzed data collected in 2005 on 8,550 children born in the U.S. in 2001 and who were part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study birth cohort. For the study, the four-year-old children were considered obese if they were at or above the 95th percentile in weight for their age and sex; overall, the researchers found that 18% of the children were obese. For the study, the household routines were defined as eating the evening meal as a family more than five times per week; obtaining at least 10½ hours of sleep per night; and watching less than two hours per day of TV on weekdays. In all, 14.5% of the children in the study lived in families where all three of the routines were observed, and 12.4% in families where none took place.

The results showed that among children exposed to all three routines, 14.3% were obese, compared with 24.5% among those exposed to none of the routines. In a multivariate analysis, children used to all three routines had an odds ratio for obesity of 0.63, compared with those who were exposed to none. Any two routines, again compared with none, had an odds ratio for obesity of 0.64. A similar pattern was seen for one routine compared with none, but in the multivariate analysis, the benefit was no longer statistically significant. However, in a univariate analysis, any single routine, compared with none, reduced the odds of obesity by between 23% and 25%, and the odds did not change when the presence or absence of the other two was factored in. The study was published early online on February 8, 2009, in the journal Pediatrics.

"Our research suggests these routines may have the opportunity for impact; and they may help families move beyond the discussion of eating and exercise to other aspects of behavior and biology that have potential to be linked to obesity,” said lead author Sarah Anderson, Ph.D., an assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University. "It may be more difficult for some families than others to have regular meals together, ensure their child gets enough sleep, and limit TV time. However, given their specific circumstances and constraints, families with young children may want to consider what it would take for them to have these routines for their child.”

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Ohio State University
Temple University