Can Maternal Relations affect Obesity in Children?

Our next article touches on a subject near and dear to my heart.  Pediatric obesity is a serious epidemic and is receiving a lot of attention from the medical, academic and policy making communities.  This article is out of Ohio State University, with Dr. Sarah Anderson the lead author of the study.  I found this piece interesting, it also furthered more questions about parental guidance.  Dr. Anderson address the relationships between mother and child and its relation to obesity.  A statement made by Dr. Anderson that initially peaked my interest was,  "Among those toddlers who had the lowest-quality emotional relationships with their mothers, more than a quarter were obese as teens, compared to 13 percent of adolescents who had closer bonds with their mothers in their younger years."  


What this helps me to understand and further appreciate is that there are social influences to health and obesity, especially in the home setting.  Aside from diet and exercise, "bonding" was mentioned as the point of purpose or concern regarding reducing the likelihood of pediatric obesity.  "It is possible that childhood obesity could be influenced by interventions that try to improve the emotional bonds between mothers and children rather than focusing only on children's food intake and activity," said Sarah Anderson, assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University.  


Lets discuss what obesity and emotion have in relation to one another.  When we look at our children today and see the decline that is happening, we can't help but to look at the parents.  Some may blame the society in which they live or the children themselves.  When we look at emotional states and how children are subject to pressures from their peers, pressures from school, home and society, it is no wonder Dr. Anderson looked at the maternal bonds and/or home settings.  Could the question of nature versus nurture be asked regarding pediatric obesity?  Could a mother's love curb poor eating habits or strengthen children emotionally?  To that point, what does emotions have to do with obesity?  


My thought (though rough) is that food has a comforting affect on populations.  I also feel the same way regarding sex, these two aspects are abused in similar fashion.  Food (which is what we'll focus on) is a escape for some, and could be a comforter.  The more stress endured, the more those who use food as a comforter will eat.  It is interesting that the same gland (hypothalamus)  that supports and regulates hunger or appetite also functions for sexual behavior.  I do agree it is rough to draw such correlations, but interesting to think of.  Emotion deals with how we see and feel our experiences, this ties closely with Cognitive Plyometrics in that we need to understand and be knowledgeable about what we experience and properly classify our experiences to get the most out of our lives.  


The bond between mother and child is one no other adhesive or relationship can endure.  If the data and information read in this article are clear indicators to where the prevention may lie, we need to understand how this bond works and its relation to diet and exercise.  The world is ever evolving and our children are experiencing a life we can't quite grasp.  With technology aiding in sedentary habits and food being too accessible and poorer in nutrients.  Children need a haven and a support system that builds them up emotionally, strengthens their confidence and gives them purpose.  If we can agree that love is an action, a commitment, the strongest emotion we can describe or understand.  What will we do, what efforts or lengths will exceed that love and why...  


This article is important because the likelihood of obese children becoming obese adults is great.  If we do not put any efforts into our kids, our society will continue to decline at this alarming rate we see today.  With Type II Diabetes Militus on the rise in adolescent populations with other co-morbidities, we have no choice but to act.  Just as this blog suggests, we need to educate ourselves strengthen the confines of our mind and how we think about matters to ask the more engaging and befitting questions.  It is when we do this, we can get the best answers or ideas to move in the right direction.


This is what I got out of the article, I'd love to hear your view.....  Thanks!