A group from Tohoku University and the Miyagi Unit Center for Eco-Children's Research revealed that a mother's physical activity level from pregnancy through to after birth affects her child's physical activity level.
When children form their lifestyle habits, they are likely influenced by the lifestyle habits of their parents. As the saying goes, "children grow up watching their parents' backs," so if a mother has an active lifestyle, does that mean the child will be more active?
本研究グループは、環境省による子どもの健康と環境に関する全国調査（エコチル調査）の一環として、1,067組の母子を対象に研究を実施した。妊娠確認時から産後5.5年まで追跡したデータを用いて、「妊娠前」、「妊娠中」、「産後1.5年」、「産後3.5年」、「産後5.5年」の5つの時点で母親の身体活動レベルを質問票により測定し、5.5歳時点の子どもが1日60分の身体活動を週5日以上実施する確率との関連を検討した。
The results showed that children in the group of mothers with the highest total physical activity level scores at each of the five time points from before pregnancy to 5.5 years after childbirth were 5 times more likely to engage in 1 minutes of physical activity per day, five days or more per week, compared to the group of mothers with the lowest total physical activity scores. These results suggest that the higher the mother's physical activity level from before pregnancy through the child-rearing period, the higher the child's physical activity level at age 60 years. Furthermore, an examination of each time point confirmed that the mother's physical activity level during pregnancy and 5 years after childbirth was associated with the child's physical activity level.
These findings suggest that in order to address the lack of physical activity in children, which is one of the causes of childhood obesity and lack of physical fitness, it may be important for mothers to maintain a high level of physical activity from pregnancy through to child-rearing. These results demonstrate the importance of efforts to increase physical activity not only at school but also at home, with the aim of promoting physical activity in children.
