Health

Older Siblings May Be More Likely To Become Obese

New research on pairs of sisters finds firstborn women show greater risks for obesity compared to their second-born sisters.

Older Siblings May Be More Likely To Become Obese
Bob B. Brown / CC BY ND 2.0
Article by Ryan Biek
SMS
August 27, 2015

Can birth order affect obesity risk? A new study comparing sisters may make being the older sibling a little less desirable. 

Researchers from Sweden and New Zealand published their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 

Not counting twins, the study found firstborn sisters were 29 percent more likely to be overweight and 40 percent more likely to be obese than second-born sisters.  

Similarly, a 2010 study found firstborn sons had a greater risk of being overweight than their later-born brothers. 

The findings support the "resource dilution hypothesis" –– that, as family size grows, less food, money and attention are available. This leads to a negative effect on children's development both physically and mentally.  

However, because the study isn't an experiment, we can't say for sure birth order affects, or causes, obesity.

This video includes images from Getty Images and Bob B. Brown / CC BY ND 2.0.