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Indulgent Grandparents 'Bad for Children's Health'

  • November 15, 2017

The trope of grandparents indulging the whims of their grandchildren against the wishes of the child’s parents resonates because it is far too common. According to a controversial University of Glasgow study, covered in a recent BBC report, these indulgent behaviors can have a serious adverse impact on their grandchildren’s health. 

This conclusion is likely to stir up age-old intergenerational debates over child care. The study focused on grandparents who were not primary caregivers but provided significant support. The keyword in the study was indulgent. The grandparents in the study were criticized for promoting unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits that influence future cancer risk: diet and weight, physical activity and smoking. 

The overly indulgent grandparents in the study were characterized as often misinformed and said to use sugary treats as rewards. This becomes a serious issue when grandparents are a major source of child care. Ideally, junk food would not be doled out to children in the first place, but the situation becomes fraught when these unhealthy “rewards” are being distributed on a daily basis. 

A more blatant health issue that appeared in the study was smoking. Although unintentional, a smoking grandparent is sending mixed messages and makes it harder for parents to convince children about the dangers of this habit. 

A sedentary lifestyle for children is extremely dangerous. It is one of the major drivers of the childhood obesity epidemic. Unfortunately, less active grandparents or ones who do not have an appropriate space may find it difficult to convince children to exercise.  

It is improbable that the indulgent grandparents in the study were looking to sabotage the future health of their grandchildren. It seems likely that they were not considering the serious long term ramifications of their poor health decisions. A big takeaway from this study is the importance of accurate health information. 

If you are a grandparent, parent or responsible for the well-being of children it is important that you possess accurate information. My nutrition plan is an excellent starting point and can help you avoid the often contradictory information that plagues the internet. There are healthy food options that are delicious and can appeal to the palate of even the pickiest child. My chocolate fat bomb truffles are easy to make and enjoyed by children of all ages.  

Nearly 20 percent of American children are obese, which can set them up for a lifetime of very serious health problems. Grandparents, one of the largest providers of informal child care in the world, are on the front lines in the battle against this epidemic. Staying informed is the only way to fight against marketers who target children with unhealthy junk food and a society that lends itself to a sedentary lifestyle. It is possible to indulge and nourish without relying on the prepackaged fallbacks that dominate our consumer-based society. Exercise, healthy eating and mindful mentoring are the best way to indulge the next generation.