A Good Relationship with Your Son? It Might Lead to a Leaner, Healthier Future

A new study from the University of Guelph in Canada has found that parents, especially fathers, play a crucial role in developing healthy behaviors that prevent extreme obesity in their children.

Researchers discovered that young people raised in stable families with strong relationships with their parents were more likely to maintain healthy eating, activity, and sleeping habits, and had a lower risk of extreme obesity.

The study also found that the father-son relationship was more significant than the mother-son relationship in predicting a son's chances of developing obesity.

"Much of the previous research on parental influence has traditionally focused solely on mothers or combined parental influence," says Professor Jess Heiner, the lead researcher. "Our results emphasize the need to evaluate the impact fathers have on their children and to develop strategies to help fathers support their children's development of healthy behaviors."

The study, which involved 3,700 young women and 2,600 young men, found that the father-son relationship had a greater influence on boys than the mother-daughter relationship had on girls.

Overall, the researchers conclude that the study underscores the importance of healthy family relationships for children's physical health. "High levels of family dysfunction may interfere with the development of healthy habits due to parents' limited ability to establish routines related to eating, sleeping, and physical activity. Without these habits, the risk of overweight increases."