Indulgent grandparents may 'harm' children
Too many treats and a lack of exercise are causing problems
Too many treats and a lack of exercise are causing problems
Too many treats and a lack of exercise are causing problems
It's not a secret that grandparents often like to spoil and treat their offspring's kids. But new research has suggested that this well-meaning attention may be having negative effects on their grandchildren's health.
A study by the University of Glasgow, published in PLOS One journal, found that grandparents were inclined to overfeed children – usually under the guise of a "treat" – with parents feeling unable to interfere when they are reliant on them for childcare. It also found that many grandparents and fail to give them sufficient exercise.
The researchers followed 56 case studies from 18 different countries where grandparents were significant – although not primary – caregivers, assessing their impact on diet and weight, physical activity and smoking.
They found that parents often found the grandparents' attitude to food to be "indulgent", "misinformed", and that they used it as an emotional tool.
The report also concluded that if grandparents were then children were likely to be as well. There were also many cases of grandparents smoking around the children even after being asked not to.
Lead researcher Dr. Stephanie Chambers said, "From the studies we looked at, it appears that parents often find it difficult to discuss the issues of passive smoking and over-treating grandchildren. While the results of this review are clear that behavior such as exposure to smoking and regularly treating children increases cancer risks as children grow into adulthood, it is also clear from the evidence that these risks are unintentional. Given that many parents now rely on grandparents for care, the mixed messages about health that children might be getting is perhaps an important discussion that needs to be had."
Lucy Peake, of the charity Grandparents Plus, called for better education and support to be made available for grandparents. She , "We know that children benefit enormously from having close relationships with their grandparents right through childhood into adolescence. What this study shows is that the role they're playing in children's lives needs to be better recognized and supported. We'd like to see more focus on ensuring that information available to parents about children's health reaches grandparents too."