A mother's activity levels may have more of an effect on her child than you might expect. A new study reveals that the more active a mother is, the more physically active her child will be. The findings could show a new way for mothers to encourage their children to be healthier earlier in life.
The researchers examined 500 mothers and four-year-olds. More specifically, they outfitted the children and their mothers with a lightweight combined heart-rate monitor and accelerometer on their chests for up to a week, according to BBC News. This allowed the scientists to monitor activity levels and she how the children were affected.
In the end, the researchers found that mothers who were more active tended to have more active children. This association, though, depended largely on the child's weight, time spent at school, the mother's education and the time of day and week, according to Reuters.
"Active play is an important way to develop coordination and motor function skills in the pre-school early years and there are lots of activities like parent and toddler swims, buggy fit and baby gym which provide opportunities for mums to socialize, be active and support their child's development," said Ann Hoskins, director of children, young people and families and Public Health England, in an interview with BBC News.
The findings are an encouraging sign for mothers. It shows that by increasing their activity levels, they can help their children live healthier lives. This is a huge step toward combating the tide of obesity in children.
"It's a positive thing that maternal physical activity levels can influence the activity level of their child," said Kathryn Hesketh, one of the researchers, in an interview with Reuters. "If more time is spent moving, then activity can increase in both."
The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics.
