Children with indulgent grandparents 'more likely to develop cancer as adults'

Researchers studied the links between grandparents and children's health.
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Francesca Gillett15 November 2017

Children who have indulgent grandparents are more likely to develop cancer, a new study has suggested.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow looked at data from around the world showing the link between grandparents’ behaviour and children’s health.

They found that overall grandparents inadvertently had "an adverse impact on their grandchildren’s health” by treating and overfeeding their little ones.

Spending time with grandparents also means children get less exercise or could be exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke - both which are considered risk factors for diseases like cancer.

The study said there is evidence to suggest children exposed to these risk factors have a greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer in adulthood.

But the academics, who looked at 56 studies with data from 18 countries and published their findings in the journal PLOS ONE, said the studies did not take into account the “positive emotional benefit” of children spending time with their grandparents.

Lead author Dr Stephanie Chambers said: “While the results of this review are clear that behaviour such as exposure to smoking and regularly treating children increases cancer risks as children grow into adulthood, it is also clear from the evidence that these risks are unintentional.”

Grandparents who are indulgent could be damaging their children's health.
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She said grandparents perhaps should be targeted with public health messages.

Dr Chambers added: “From the studies we looked at, it appears that parents often find it difficult to discuss the issues of passive smoking and over-treating grandchildren.

“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.”

More women at work, childcare costs and an increased number of single parents means grandparents often play a big role in children’s lives.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, said: “Children's health can be affected by range of factors, and this study reinforces the importance of the broader family picture.

“With both smoking and obesity being the two biggest preventable causes of cancer in the UK, it’s important for the whole family to work together.”

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