Fatherhood is a truly rewarding experience, but not so much for your feet, according to a study out of Northwestern University. That’s because your feet will likely be shouldering more weight – and we’re not talking about holding your newborn.
In a study of more than 10,000 men from adolescence into adulthood, researchers uncovered that men gained nearly five pounds when they became fathers for the first time. Researchers believe new fathers gain weight because they aren’t as active and they sometimes finish off their child’s food.
“You have new responsibilities when you have your kids and may not have time to take care of yourself the way you once did in terms of exercise. Your family becomes the priority,” said lead author Craig Garfield, adding “we all know dads who clean their kids’ plates after every meal.”
Daddy Diet
According to researchers, adding five pounds increased the average male’s Body Mass Index by 2.6 percent. That increase may not sound like a whole lot, but the added weight can increase a person’s risk of certain health conditions.
“Fatherhood can affect the health of young men,” said Garfield. “The more weight the fathers gain and the higher their BMI, the greater risk they have for developing heart disease as well as diabetes and cancer.”
Interestingly, the study also examined weight gain in fathers who did not live with their children after they were born. Researchers found that those fathers still gained weight, but not as much fathers who lived with their kids. Those fathers only put on about 3.3 pounds.
Researchers also examined men of the same age who did not have children during that stage of their life. On average, those men actually lost more than a pound over the same period.
Dr. Silverman comments
We already knew that marriage typically expanded a male’s waistline, and this new information isn’t that surprising when you consider the lifestyle changes that occur when you have a child. Your child comes first, and that can mean putting running, biking, softball or other exercise activities on the back burner. Instead of hiking the trails on Saturday, you’re munching on a snack watching Baby Einstein videos.
Although the new baby will take up the majority of your time, it’s still important to make time for you, your spouse and your body. Jump on the treadmill while the baby is down for a nap, or put them in the stroller and walk around the block. Find ways to incorporate your exercise into your daily daddy duties.
