"Obesity associated with number of children is not just a problem linked to physiological changes in women during pregnancy," said Ostbye. "There are social, cultural or psychological mechanisms that bring about this weight gain, and this is illustrated by our results that showed men were also at a greater risk of obesity."
The researchers say their findings point to a significant public health issue that must be addressed.
"Having children can be a wonderful experience for couples, but parents need to be aware of their increased risk of obesity and receive appropriate counseling as their families grow," Bastian said. "It's important to the overall health of the family that diet and physical activity take a significant role in the family's lifestyle."
Bastian says additional research is needed to examine the changes in attitudes toward diet, physical activity and exercise that occur among couples caring for small children. She said researchers and clinicians need to learn the causes of changes in diet and physical activity that may increase the risk of obesity, and to develop appropriate interventions.
