Having Younger Sibling Can Improve Firstborn’s Fitness

Children with at least one younger sibling have a higher chance of being physically fit than sibling-less kids. Researchers found that the presence of a brother or sister greatly improves a firstborn's health.

According to a new study published on Pediatrics, sibling-less kids are more prone to obesity than children who acquired a sibling between ages three and four. Having a sibling is also associated with a healthier body mass index for the firstborn.

Dr. Julie Lumeng clarified that the study, which investigated the cases of 700 children across the United States, did not reveal a gospel truth. Rather, it merely discovered a link between the two variables and that further studies still need to be done. The pediatrician told ABC News, "The possibility that seems most compelling is that if you have a younger sibling, you're more likely to run around."

Nutrition expert Keith Ayoob of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine pointed out that family dynamics could have a huge impact on the eating habits of a child. It could also have a major influence on a child's body mass index.

"There's a tendency for parents to constantly feed, whether the child is hungry or not," said Ayoob. "Children can be silenced with food, and that really ends up leading to a dysfunctional relationship with food. It's a very quick fix."

Both Lumeng and Ayoob agreed that the study has shed a new light on family dynamics and how parents should discipline their children with regards to their eating habits. Naturally, the doctors aren't recommending parents to have a second child for the sole purpose of improving their firstborn's BMI.

Still, having a sibling has its perks such as extra emotional support, liveliness in the household and the promotion of selflessness among brothers or sisters. Real Simple noted that siblings improve each other's mental health and overall happiness.