Parents do have a favourite child!
They may not admit it, but parents do have a favourite child — they treat some children more favourably based on factors such as gender, birth order, and temperament, reveals a study published in Psychological Bulletin (January).
Researchers of Brigham Young University, USA, examined 30 studies and 14 unpublished datasets about parents’ differential treatment, representing more than 19,000 participants from across North America and Western Europe. They found that parents tended to favour daughters. However, this might not be true in other cultures
“There are a couple of older studies that suggested that fathers favour sons, and mothers favour daughters, so that’s what we were expecting to find. But it turns out fathers favour daughters too,” says study co-author Alexander Jensen, an associate professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University.
The study also reveals that parents tend to favour older siblings, and more agreeable and conscientious children.
Peanut butter consumption raises tolerance in children with peanut allergy
Children with high-threshold peanut allergy who ate gradually larger doses of peanut butter achieved significantly higher and long-lasting tolerance compared with those who avoided peanuts, says a new study published in NEJM Evidence.
A research team led by Dr. Scott H. Sicherer and Dr. Julie Wang of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, designed a clinical trial to assess whether a low-cost, at-home treatment strategy could help children with high-threshold peanut allergy tolerate more peanut protein. The researchers found that all 32 children who participated in the oral food challenge could tolerate 9 grams of peanut protein. That’s equivalent to about two and a half tablespoons of peanut butter. In contrast, only three of the 30 children who underwent the oral food challenge in the avoidance group (10 percent) could tolerate that amount of peanut protein.
“Our study results suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children with peanut allergy. My hope is that this study will eventually change practices to help these children,” says Sicherer.
Self-guided treatment for obese children as good as traditional treatment
While family-based behavioural treatment (FBT) — in which a healthcare professional works with the family to help children lose weight — is a clinically proven methodology to treat children with obesity, researchers at University of California San Diego’s Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR) have discovered that self-guided FBT is just as effective. The study, which surveyed 150 parent/child pairs, was recently published in Pediatrics.
“Though FBT is an effective treatment for children with obesity, it can be time-intensive, can only be offered at specific times, and is expensive, which makes families less likely to seek treatment. By providing the same core skills as traditional FBT in a more flexible and condensed format, self-guided FBT is a good option for families who may not be able to participate in traditional group-based programs,” says Kerri Boutelle, senior author and director of CHEAR.
Intermittent fasting by teens may not be safe
A new study published in Cell Reports highlights the need for teenagers to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any intermittent fasting regimen to discuss the potential risks and benefits and determine the best approach for their individual needs. Researchers of the Technical University of Munich, LMU Hospital, Munich, and Helmholtz, Munich found that intermittent fasting had opposing effects on mice of different ages. While it improved health in older mice, it harmed pancreatic cell development in young mice, suggesting potential risks for adolescents and young adults. The study’s findings indicate that age plays a crucial role in determining the benefits or risks of intermittent fasting.
“Our study confirms that intermittent fasting is beneficial for adults, but it might be risky for children and teenagers,” says Stephan Herzig, a professor at Technical University of Munich and director of the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Munich
