Association between maternal and paternal employment and their children’s weight status and unhealthy behaviours: does it matter who the working parent is?

Year: 2022

Publisher: BMC Health Services Research

Abstract: The increasing number of employed women has been associated with an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. We sought to determine whether childhood overweight and obesity in Spain is associated with mothers’ and fathers’ work participation, and whether the identity of the primary caregiver influences children’s weight and unhealthy behavior.

We used microdata from the 2010 and 2014 Health Behavior in School-Age Children surveys conducted in Spain (n = 32,694). Multilevel logistic and linear regression models were also applied to assess the association between parental employment and children’s weight status.

The results indicate that in most cases, significant associations between children’s weight and parental employment status disappeared once the models were adjusted for family wealth and education. However, we found persistent associations for some groups. Girls under 13 years of age who lived in households where the mother was the only employed parent were more likely to be obese and to report a higher body mass index value. Children in such households were more likely to exhibit unhealthy lifestyles related to diet and leisure activities.

Our results suggest the need for more equitable sharing of the burden of care.

Palabras clave: Childhood, Obesity, Unhealthy habits, Maternal employment, Parental employment, Multi-level

Cómo citar: Zozaya, N., Oliva-Moreno, J. & Vallejo-Torres, L. Association between maternal and paternal employment and their children’s weight status and unhealthy behaviours: does it matter who the working parent is?. BMC Public Health 22, 1331 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13735-3