Motherhood impacts health more than fatherhood

Having children brings major changes to parents physical mental and social lives but a new study suggests that mothers are affected much more than fathers.

The research published in the Journal of Family Studies looked at how becoming a parent changes health and daily habits including exercise and smoking.

The study found that becoming a father has little effect on men’s overall health before or after the birth of a child.

However the situation is different for women.

Researchers found that a mother’s age and the number of children she has can influence her health.

Women with only one child or those whose children have reached their teenage years were more likely to experience symptoms of depression.

On the other hand mothers with two or more young children were generally found to have better overall health.

The biggest lifestyle change was seen in physical activity.  Mothers were much less likely to exercise than fathers.

According to the study only 16% of mothers with young children exercise regularly while men’s exercise habits remain almost the same whether they have children or not.

Researchers believe this is because mothers spend much more time caring for their children leaving them with less time to look after their own health.

As a result their physical and mental well being may be affected.