When a mother learns she is expecting another baby, thought invariably goes to her first-born or elder children as she considers the impact the new arrival will have on her offspring.
But while many of us consider the change in family dynamic and the effect it may have on our youngster's identity and behaviour, a recent study suggests a new baby may also impact our child's health.
According to a longitudinal study which was conducted in the United States, researchers established that children who did not have a sibling by the time they were in first grade were more often obese at that age compared to children who gained a sibling between aged three and four.
Offering a possible explanation into the findings, Dr. Julie Lumeng, a pediatrician at the C.S. Mott Hospital at the University of Michigan and an author on the study, explained: "The possibility that seems most compelling is that if you have a younger sibling, you’re more likely to run around."
While this may indeed play a role in a child's BMI, researchers are eager to remind the public that family dynamics also play an important role in determining whether a child develops good eating habits and in turn maintains a healthy weight.
"There’s a tendency for parents to constantly feed, whether the child is hungry or not,” Keith Ayoob, a nutrition expert and associate clinical professor in pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine said. “Children can be silenced with food and that really ends up leading to a dysfunctional relationship with food. It’s a very quick fix."
Explaining the significance of the study which monitored approximately 700 children across the United States, Dr. Lumeng suggested: "This study might be a trigger for people to reflect on their family rhythms and what the family dynamic is."
"If there were a younger sibling in the family, how might the rhythms change in a way that might be protective against obesity?" she asked.
The study has been published in the Pediatrics journal.
