No pressure parents, but according to a recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids who are blessed with a younger brother or sister by the time they hit first grade are much more likely to have a smaller waistline and lower BMI.
On the flip side, children who did not experience the birth of a sibling by the time they hit first grade were three times more likely to be overweight. Whoa.
Researchers explain that this is because parents tend to make lifestyle changes that impact the way they feed their kids the minute a new baby is added to the mix. The main one? The addition of a sibling actually eases their pre-occupation with the eating habits of older children--aka negative attention that can cause kids to gain weight.
Another factor: Your kids get more exercise. With a built-in playmate, siblings are more active together. (Hey, why spend hours and hours watching TV when you can torment your little sister by chasing after her, right?)
