The conclusion belongs to a new scientific investigation

Mar 15, 2012 15:48 GMT  ·  By
Food-insecure mothers engage in behaviors that make them more likely to become obese
   Food-insecure mothers engage in behaviors that make them more likely to become obese

Scientists at the Pennsylvania State University determined in a new study that hard-working mothers who struggle to put food on the table for their children tend to place themselves at a higher risk of developing obesity at some point in their lives.

The correlation holds especially true for women who are in a poor financial situation to begin with, sociologists at Penn State go on to say. Food insecurity therefore becomes, rather counter intuitively, a risk factor for obesity.

One of the most interesting aspects of the study is that women in this situation are more likely to be obese or overweight than fathers who are also financially-insecure. Experts believe that this discovery merits some further investigation.

Overall, the research showed that food-insecure women tend to exceed all other categories (men in the same situation, or men and women who are food-insecure, but have no children) in terms of the risks they're exposed to. Stress and excessive worrying may play a pivotal role in underlying this link.

“We often forget that food insecurity is happening in a country as rich as ours. Trying to protect children from food insecurity is not as rare as it once was, and it's been on the rise for the last two years, if not the last five years,” says Molly Martin.

The expert holds an appointment as an assistant professor of sociology and demography at Penn State.

Some of the most common “tactics” mothers use in order to ensure that their children are fed properly include skipping meals, or eating cheaper, less-nutritious meals. All of these actions are known risk factors for the development of obesity and associated conditions.

Excessive body weight has been linked with a wide array of negative health-effects, ranging from diabetes to heart conditions, and a weakened cardiovascular system. Together, these conditions incur costs of billions on the healthcare system.

“To make sure mothers can provide for their children, they may eat only once a day, for example, or they may eat erratically, which are all behaviors that are obesity risks,” sociology graduate student and study team member Adam Lippert explains.

Irregular eating is especially dangerous. This behavior is known to elicit a metabolic response that leads to the body retaining more fat in order to always have access to fuel for basic operations.

“What other studies show is that when it comes down to it, the kids come first,” Lippert says. Details of the work appear in the latest issue of the journal Social Science and Medicine.