Grandparents ‘may be having a negative impact on grandchildren’s health’

The behaviour of grandparents may be leading to their grandchildren developing unhealthy habits, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow examined data from 56 studies spanning 18 countries in order to assess the care provided to children by grandparents who are not designated as their primary carers.

Overall, grandparents were often found to be inadvertently having an adverse impact on their grandchildren's health through an excess of treats, overfeeding and a lack of physical activity.

Negative impacts from tobacco smoke were also observed, indicating that many grandparents are failing to comply with parents' wishes regarding second-hand smoke and role-modelling negative behaviour.

Although these studies did not take into account the positive emotional benefit of children spending time with grandparents, it nevertheless suggested that the older generation should be more of a focus in public health messaging.

Study leader Dr Stephanie Chambers, of the University of Glasgow's social and public health sciences unit, said: "Given that many parents now rely on grandparents for care, the mixed messages about health that children might be getting is perhaps an important discussion that needs to be had."

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