Kids weight rises the longer mom works

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- A U.S. study found the longer mothers worked outside the home, the higher the risk of their children being overweight or obese, researchers say.

Researchers at American University, Cornell University and the University of Chicago used longitudinal data from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, and tracked 900 children in grades 3, 5, and 6 who lived in 10 cities nationwide.

The study, published in the January/February issue of the journal Child Development, finds the total number of years mothers were employed had a small but cumulative influence on children's body mass index.

Study leader Taryn W. Morrissey of American University said changes in the children's physical activity, time spent unsupervised and time spent watching TV didn't explain the link between the mothers' employment and children's weight.

The reasons for the findings are not entirely clear, but one possibility is working parents have limited time for grocery shopping and food preparation, and rely more on takeout, processed or fast-food, which are higher in fat and calories, Morrissey said.