Kids of Working Moms Less Healthy: British study

[Anonymous]

Correlation does not equal causation.

You choose (at least until a certain age) how much tv your kids watch, whether they drink sweetened soda/juice or water, whether they are given a healthy diet, etc. etc.
Being a working mother may make some of these things a little more challenging, and I am sure other factors - e.g. being a single mother, would make them even harder. But you just have to do the best you can given your circumstances. I am not sure this study tells us anything we didn't already know. Of course, everything else being equal, you are more likely to rely on convenience foods if you work. And convenience foods tend to be less healthy. But there are healthy convenience foods and you can make choices.

[Anonymous]

To the PP whose 3 year old loves swiss chard and 6 month old has never had a drop of formula: just wait! It's easy to control now. Wait until school, birthday parties, friends' influence. Trust me, you'll be singing a different tune in a few years.

I'm a WOHM and I try to make sure my children have healthy meals, snacks, etc. I think we actually do pretty well. My kids get healtier meals at school/daycare than they would probably eat at home. They have hot, nutritionally balanced meals and there is some peer (and teacher) pressure to eat fruit and vegetables.

I think the study is helpful to point out the issue. We need to develop policies to make it easier for working parents to be aware of and implement healthier lifestyles.

Oh, and I'm not sure how my children will ever make it to adulthood if they "need" a parent home full time. Funny, they seem to me to be polite, independent, happy children. I wonder how they possibly could have turned out that way without me hovering over them all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The diet in the UK is different than ours. There is a need for digestive biscuits because there is so little fiber in their diets.

This is my DCUM comment of the day.

My understanding is that in southern and easter England milk chocolate hobnobs have largely replaced digestic biscuits in filling this dietary niche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The diet in the UK is different than ours. There is a need for digestive biscuits because there is so little fiber in their diets.

This is my DCUM comment of the day.

My understanding is that in southern and easter England milk chocolate hobnobs have largely replaced digestic biscuits in filling this dietary niche.

Being from the UK I cracked up when I saw that comment. She has obviously never had a digestive biscuit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The diet in the UK is different than ours. There is a need for digestive biscuits because there is so little fiber in their diets.

This is my DCUM comment of the day.

My understanding is that in southern and easter England milk chocolate hobnobs have largely replaced digestic biscuits in filling this dietary niche.

Being from the UK I cracked up when I saw that comment. She has obviously never had a digestive biscuit!

I know - hysterical!

[Anonymous]

So a statistical correlation has been found but we do need to ask why are children of working moms less healthy? What is the causation? In my view, and based on a sample of one (my house), when I am not there, Dad does not step up to the plate (excuse the pun!) and provide a heathly meal. He does not cook the veggies that I have left prepared, and he is too lazy to cut up the fruit for desert and decides that ice cream is just fine.
So really the problem is DAD! and instead of all the Moms bashing each other we should be turning to DH with the evidence that when Mom is not there, e is not doing a good enough job.

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM and how does this study explain the high rate of nuggets and mac and cheese found in my house. That, and HOURS of Sprout?

My kids would be better off in daycare.

[Anonymous]

Holy Crap! We have a twofer with this thread - SAHM vs. WOHM and Breastfeeding vs. Formula and possibly Nanny vs. Daycare will start.

Should we at CIO? Pacis? Private vs. Public?

[Anonymous]

Well that's nice.

Until the folks who do these studies come up with a way for me to magically stay home and still pay for housing, electricity, healthy food, and inner tubes for my kid's bike, I will continue to ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well that's nice.

Until the folks who do these studies come up with a way for me to magically stay home and still pay for housing, electricity, healthy food, and inner tubes for my kid's bike, I will continue to ignore them.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

I don't live in the UK, so I really don't care.

[Anonymous]

I am doing the best for my family. That's all I can do for now. I am sure that's true for all parents. Don't let studies like this get you down. Continue to do your best and your kids will be just fine.