Fathers may be more important than mothers in determining whether a child becomes overweight or obese, according to a ground-breaking new Australian study by the Centre for Community Child Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

“This study of a large cross-section of Australian pre-schoolers has, for the first time, suggested that fathers could be at the frontline in preventing early childhood obesity,” explains Associate Professor Melissa Wake of CCCH. “Mothers are often blamed for their children’s obesity, but this study suggests that for more effective prevention perhaps we should focus on the whole family.

“Given the importance of the family unit in a child’s preschool years, and its influence on their nutrition and physical activity levels, it is timely to look at the parenting roles of both parents and the impact they have on a child’s tendency to be overweight or obese,” she said. “This makes even more sense given that more than 40% of these young mothers and more than 60% of these young fathers were themselves overweight or obese.”

“We know from earlier research that childhood obesity is highly stable during the primary school years, right from school entry. For instance, the BMI of a prep- grade child has an 85% correlation with their BMI three years later. Obese school children are very likely to become obese adults,” warns Associate Professor Wake.

So dad’s are even more responsible for the way kids turn out than moms… I am sure that this is not just a health related truth. Check out all the truly balanced, happy kids, they all have strong father figures.

Even more than running fast, lifting heavy stuff and being a successful and influential fitness professional, I want to be a world class dad and husband. Making myself a positive influence to the next generation is the stuff that legends are made of.

I do enjoy some of the USA’s culture. Basketball, American football, the freedom to pursue your dreams… in fact I take US based courses and seminars as well as business coaching. No reason not to if people have gone ahead of you in certain areas. But public health and fitness is NOT one of those areas! I really hope Singapore health & fitness does not go down that same road. A new report by the Center of disease control and prevention shows that the USA is losing ground in the race to stem obesity. Uh oh… The responsibility is on each of us. Market forces are certainly not going to help us. Look at the worrying new surge of DOUGHNUT SHOPS in Singapore. And the long lines of people waiting outside them…