Maternal Union Status and Changes in BMI during Early Childhood
Kammi K. Schmeer, Ohio State University
This study informs current family and health research by using longitudinal Fragile Families data and change models to assess whether maternal union status and transitions are associated with changes in children’s BMI between ages three and five. Increasing BMI during early childhood may increase the risk of later obesity in childhood and adulthood. Results indicate that children living with two married parents or whose mothers move into a new union have lower (i.e., healthier) change in BMI than those whose mothers are leaving a union or are in stably single households. When maternal overweight interactions are included, there is evidence that the best scenario for children’s BMI in this sample is to have a normal-BMI mother enter a new union. This suggests that relationship or partner qualities, not just number of parents in the household, may be critical to creating family environments that promote healthy BMI growth among children.
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Presented in Session 5: Overweight and Obesity in Children and Youth