Grandmas Gorging Kids?

As the economy continues to be an issue, parents may turn to childcare methods that save cash. No one better, safer and more affordable than grandma, right? Maybe not if you’re worried about your child’s obesity risk, a study published in the International Journal of Obesity found.

Researchers found that childcare by grandma can make tots 15 percent more likely to become overweight, compared to three year olds who were watched solely by their parents or by a daycare agency. When grandparents raised children full-time, the youngsters were about 34 percent more likely to be overweight. Perhaps these kids are “spoiled rotten?”

Interestingly, the children who were overweight after grandma-care were more likely to come from advantaged backgrounds (well-educated, two parent homes). In these situations, grandparents are probably well-off also—so they have more spare cash to take little Johnny out for a cupcake or buy ingredients to bake them as a project at home.

But that’s just my hypothesis as to why this phenomenon exists. Do you have any guesses about why Grandma babysitting may increase a child’s weight?

(Image from EBohling)

Good Sports

Title IX, the act that required the same athletic opportunities for male and female students in American publicly-funded schools, has been a hot-button issue since the amendment was proposed in 1972. Critics said, “If girls aren’t interested in some sports, why should boys be penalized and forfeit their teams so sport offerings are even?” Even now, it’s hard to say whether the government needs to regulate local athletic opportunities.

But there may have been a greater benefit from encouraging female team sports than originally considered. Two new studies have found that young women who participated in sports when young were higher achievers later in life.

After analyzing several individual factors and accounting for other variables, one study found that Title IX may have caused changes that led to a 20 percent increase in women’s education as well as a 40 percent jump in employment for young women.

Another study compared women before and after the Title was enacted. These researchers discovered that the rise in female sport participation, associated with Title IX, made women seven percent less likely to become obese two decades after their athletic endeavors.

So get out there and hit the courts, fields, tracks, etc. ladies—your wallet and waistline may thank you down the road!

(By the way, strong showing in varsity sport participation by my home state, Iowa. Way to go team!)

(Image from Dads and Daughters)

Water cooler conversation starter: A double barrel banana was discovered by a man in the UK. A great two-for-one deal for this man who often has a banana a day! This is one of those stories that initially seems interesting, then makes you question: “This is news?”

And what goes great with bananas? Why pancakes of course, and this week is Pancake Week. Let’s celebrate by listening to Jack Johnson and holding a Pancake Race!