Based on the study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, it is found that older sisters are more likely to be fatter than younger sisters. Researchers used the data from birth registration in Sweden (since 1973) and analysed the height, weight, health, lifestyle, and family history of more than 13,000 pairs of sisters.
The results pointed out that the older sisters were mostly lighter than her younger sister when they were born. However, their BMI was 2.4% higher than their younger sister when they grew up. The study also found that older sisters are 29% more likely to be overweight than younger sisters.
A professor from the University of Auckland explained that when the mother is pregnant for the first time, the blood vessels that provide nutrition to the fetus is thinner. Hence, the nutrition provided will be less, causing the fetus more likely to accumulate fat in the future.
Besides, the environment may be one of the most important factors. It is found that no novice parents will take care of the first child carefully. The mother may overeat during pregnancy, and there is also a chance of overfeeding after pregnancy. This would indirectly affect the eating habits of the children. However, when the parents have the second child, they knew how to take care of the children and they would not overfeed them.
Is this result applied to you too?
