Children of Divorced Parents more likely to be Obese: Study

Divorce can be particularly stressful for immediate family members. Yet a recent study shows that besides emotional harm, physical issues can also result. A recent study, published in the journal BMJ Open, shows that the children of divorced parents may be at an increased risk of obesity. 

Researchers from Norway examined about 3,100 third grade students from 127 schools in Norway who were also enrolled in the 2010 Norwegian Child Growth Study. This national study that collects information on the children's height, weight and waist circumference at the average age of eight helped researchers examine obesity levels among the participants. More specifically, the researchers classified children who were overweight or obese based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Children were based on numerous factors, including gender, parents' education level and marital status, ethnicity and area of residence.

Findings showed that around 19 percent of the children were overweight, while 8.9 percent carried high levels of abdominal fat. More girls tended to be overweight or obese. However, there were no differences in abdominal obesity between the two sexes.

After researchers took divorce into account, they discovered that boys with divorced parents were 63 percent more likely to be overweight or obese and up to 104 percent more likely to be abdominally obese when compared to boys whose parents were married. Girls also showed similar circumstances regarding obesity and abdominal obesity levels.

Overall, researchers calculated that children of divorced parents were about 54 percent more likely to be overweight or obese and 89 percent more likely to be abdominally obese when compared to those with married parents.

Yet the concept of marriage was not the important part of these results. In other words, those who lived in a household with both parents who never married showed similar overweight and obesity rates to those with married parents.