新奇事件簿 祖父母会增加儿童肥胖风险（在线收听）

Leaving your children with their grandparents may be bad for the little ones’ health. This is according to new research in the ‘International Journal of Obesity’. The British study showed that children who are looked after by their grandparents tend to me more overweight. Researchers looked at over 12,000 toddlers between the ages of nine months and three years. Their data showed that grandparents increased the risk of obesity in the children by as much as 34 per cent. Kids who are looked after by their parents or who go to nurseries had no similar risk of weight problems. The research also showed that children of richer parents were more at risk, especially if the mother had a management position and/or a university education.

让孩子和祖父母在一起或许对小家伙的健康不利。这是《国际肥胖期刊》上一份最新研究的说法。英国这项研究显示，由祖父母照顾的孩子看上去更加肥胖。研究人员查看了1.2万多个九个月至三岁幼儿的情况。数据显示，祖父母会使儿童肥胖的风险增加34%。由父母照顾或者前往托儿所的孩子没有类似的超重风险。研究还显示，父母比较有钱的孩子肥胖的风险更高，尤其是如果母亲处于管理层的位置或从事大学教育。

This research could help reduce the rate of obesity in Britain. Almost a quarter of pre-schoolers are overweight or obese. These new statistics should send an important message to grandparents – stop filling your grandchildren with snacks and sugary treats. We all know how our grandparents like to spoil us. It is the same all over the world. The research did not look into why young children are more at risk of obesity with their grandparents. However, there are several possible reasons. One is that older people might be less aware of proper nutrition and so give their grandchildren unhealthy food. Another possible cause is that older people are less active and might not play with the children. It might also be that British people in general are becoming less active.

这项研究有助于降低英国肥胖率。近四分之一的学龄前儿童超重或肥胖。这些新的统计数据向祖父母们传递了一个重要的信息——不要老是给孙子们零食和糖果了。我们都知道祖父母很喜欢溺爱我们。全世界都是一样的。这项研究并没有查看为何孩子和祖父母们在一起肥胖的风险更高。然而，有一些可能的原因。其中一个可能的原因是，老年人可能没有意识到营养要适当，所以给孙子们吃了不健康的食物。另外一个可能的原因是，老年人运动量较少，不跟孩子们一起玩耍。也有可能是英国人总体来说运动量都越来越少。