Given that it has been recently confirmed that men pack on pounds when they become fathers, medical experts explain how first-time dads can keep their weight under control. These measures have become very important now that researchers have confirmed that the dad bod can lead to many other diseases and health affections.
It was the Northwestern University in the United States that first admitted that men tend to gain pounds once they get married and become parents. The conclusion was reached after scientists have closely observed the evolution of 10,000 American men for a period of 20 years old.
Several respondents were followed during the experiment all throughout their adolescence and their adulthood because scientists wanted to better understand the bodily changes they go through every year. They have thus, observed that first-time dads gained around 4.4 pounds during after the pregnancy.
The body seems to know when a man becomes father for the first time, even if the parent does not live with his child. Fathers in the study group, who did not live with their children still gained 3.3 pounds during the experiment, scientists have explained.
The only respondents that managed to lose weight were childless men. Selected data has revealed that these individuals lost 1.4 pounds, regardless whether they were married or not. This clearly proves that fatherhood, similar to motherhood, comes with extra body fat.
Researchers have to find the correct explanation for the new scientifically proven dad bod. So far, they have only made suppositions in relation to the possible factors that may cause the growth of the body mass index. Some of the hypotheses they have put forth blamed the high prolactin levels setting in in the man’s body once he becomes a father, but additional researches are required for the confirmation of this theory.
Medical experts believe in awe of the recent discovery that men should pay just as much attention to their bodies as women due after pregnancy. Taking part in periodic medical checkups and maintaining an active lifestyle could help first-time fathers get rid of the unwanted pounds.
Doctors also recommend fathers not to eat the food that children refuse, as this is the main reason why mothers cannot lose weight after the pregnancy. Since the high prolactin levels render men more caring and less active, experts think practicing sports could help.
First-time fathers and men can read the full research in the American Journal of Men’s Health.
Image source: medicaldaily.com
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