BACKGROUND: Parenthood is associated with well-being across the lifes-pan, as well as increased health risks. The aim of this study was toexamine the association between parenthood, obesity, and cardiovascu-lar disease risk factors among a nationally representative sample of USadults.
METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with adultsaged 20-59 years (n=10,908) from the National Health and NutritionExamination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016. Adults were classified asparents or non-parents based on the presence of children aged birth-17years in the home. Height and weight were measured using standardprocedures and used to calculate BMI. Cardiovascular disease riskfactors assessed included physical inactivity based on self-report, highblood pressure, low HDL cholesterol, elevated glycated hemoglobin,and smoking status measured by serum cotinine. Multivariable logisticregression models were used to examine the association between par-enthood, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. All modelswere stratified by sex and adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, marital status,poverty level, and NHANES cycle.
RESULTS: Compared to non-parents,parents had a significantly greater odds of having obesity (OR: 1.18,95% CI: 1.05-1.32), physical inactivity (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.34),and low HDL cholesterol (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12-1.42), but lowerodds of being current smokers (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.66-0.88). Whenstratified by sex, fathers had greater odds of obesity (OR: 1.22; 95% CI:1.04-1.42) and lower odds of being a current smoker (OR: 0.82; 95%CI: 0.68-0.98). Mothers had greater odds of physical inactivity (OR:1.27; 95% CI: 1.03-1.56) and low HDL cholesterol (OR: 1.24; 95%CI: 1.06-1.45) and lower odds of being a current smoker (OR: 0.78;95% CI: 0.63-0.96).
CONCLUSIONS: Parents have greater odds of obesityand several modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors compared tonon-parents. Our findings illustrate the importance of supporting par-ents in family-based healthcare approaches.
