There is a relationship between long-term exposure to three specific types of family stressors and children becoming obese by the time they turn 18 years old, according to a new study – which suggests the scope of school-based obesity prevention programmes focusing on dietary intake and physical activity may require widening.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth, assistant professor Daphne Hernandez of the University of Houston Department of Health and Human Performance – in collaboration with the Texas Obesity Research Centre – examined three stress factors and applied those to the data of more than 4,700 adolescents born between 1975 and 1990.

The three stress factors analysed were family disruption, financial stress and poor maternal health, according to the study published in Preventive Medicine.

“Experiencing family stress – specifically family disruption and financial stress – repeatedly through childhood was associated with being overweight or obese by the time adolescent girls reached 18,” said Hernandez.

In comparison, only one stressor – poor maternal health – was related to boys becoming overweight or obese by the time they turned 18.

“By knowing the types of stressors that influence female and male adolescent weight gain, we can tailor specific social services to be included in obesity programmes,” added Hernandez, who believes school-based obesity prevention programmes only yield short-term benefits.