However, their partner's employment was not related to early childhoodobesity.
Researchers from the UCL Institute of Child Health examined therelationship between maternal and partner employment and a child'sweight at three years. The data covered 13,113 children born between2000 and 2002.
A total of 23 per cent of the children were overweight or obese. Theywere 14 per cent more likely to be overweight if their mothers workedafter their birth. The report also found that children from familieswith an income of 33,000 or more, were 10 per cent more likely tobe overweight for each extra 10 hours their mother worked per week.
The report said, 'These findings suggest that long hours of maternalemployment, rather than a lack of money, may impede young children'saccess to healthy foods and physical activity.
The report said that snack food, watching television, and a reduction inbreast-feeding were key factors.
Professor Tim Cole, a co-author, said, 'We need to identify risk factorsin young children to help inform policy. Maternal employment is one, butthe results demonstrate that working parents need additionalsupport.'
'Maternal employment and the early childhood overweight' is publishedonline in the 17 July issue of the International Journal of Obesity.