Research shows working mums have the unhealthiest children

New research published yesterday by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that children of working mums are less healthy due to their diet and sedentary lifestyle. The study, which included 12,000 British school children as  part of the Millennium Cohort study, found children of working mums to eat less fruit and vegetables, drink more fizzy drinks and spend more time in front of a TV or computer. Mothers working full time were found to have the unhealthiest children followed by those who worked part time.

If you are a working mum, don’t panic or feel guilty at the thought of leaving your children to go to work. This research highlights trends, it does not mean that every child with a mother who works is unhealthy. There is plenty that you can do to ensure that your child has a healthy diet and with some careful planning, you can increase your child’s active time whilst decreasing the amount of time that they spend in front of a TV or computer.