Child problem behaviours are associated with obesity in parents caring for children with developmental disabilities.
Parents of kids with developmental disabilities face a small but real jump in obesity risk, and child behavior problems drive it.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kellett et al. (2015) asked if parents of kids with developmental disabilities carry extra weight. They compared obesity rates in these parents to parents of typically developing kids. They also tested whether each extra point on a child behavior problem scale nudged parent obesity risk higher.
What they found
Parents of children with DD had modestly higher obesity: 24.5 % versus 19.6 %. Each one-point rise in child problem behavior lifted the parent’s obesity odds by 5 %. The link held even after removing the effect of parent depression.
How this fits with other research
Yamaki et al. (2009) extends this picture. They showed family caregivers of adults with IDD face even larger health hits—more obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure—proving the caregiver weight risk lasts across the lifespan.
Atan et al. (2026) adds a twist. They found kids with disabilities in food-insecure homes are over six times more likely to be obese. This pulls in household economics, not just caregiver stress, as a shared obesity driver.
Matson et al. (2009) and Smith et al. (2014) focus on the children themselves. They report one in three kids with ID is already obese, and the gap widens in adolescence. Together the papers sketch a loop: child behavior stress raises parent obesity, while child obesity keeps rising—both sides need help.
Why it matters
You now have data telling parents their own weight is on the table. Add one question about household food security and one about parent stress to your intake. Offer a 10-minute walk while the child is in session. Small moves can break the stress-weight loop for the whole family.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that obesity and depression are highly co-morbid. In a national cohort study, we examined whether parents caring for children with disabilities were more likely to be classified as obese compared to parents of children without disabilities and if obesity was associated with depressive symptoms or child behaviour characteristics. Using data from the Growing Up in Ireland National Longitudinal Study of Children (2006 to date), 627 parents of children with developmental disabilities were compared with 7941 parents of typically developing children on objectively measured levels of obesity (body mass index ≥30kg/m2), depression, health behaviours, chronic health conditions, socio-demographic and child behavioural characteristics. Parents of children with disabilities were more likely to be classified as obese compared to control parents (24.5% vs. 19.6%, p=0.005, Cramer's V<0.1). Depression was not associated with obesity. However, the odds of obesity increased with increasing child problem behaviour (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06). Over half (57%) of obese parents caring for children with disabilities reported trying to lose weight often or very often. This study has confirmed, in a population-based sample, the high risk of obesity in parents caring for children with disabilities after adjusting for the presence of depression and other health behaviours; increasing child problem behaviours were predictive of obesity. Importantly, given the negative health correlates of obesity, it is imperative that health professionals pay attention to weight issues in these parents and support their efforts in managing these issues.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2015 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.10.038