A Father’s Impact on Fitness

One of the gifts my dad gave me is his example when it comes to fitness.

• Growing up, I never heard him complain about exercise once. Ever.

• He would wake up between 4:00a – 4:30a each morning, read his Bible, and get his workout in.

• He taught me and my siblings that a healthy lifestyle can be normal.

• He showed us how to be restrictive with eating but also how to enjoy desserts and the fun moments (vacations, celebrations, etc…).

The way he prioritized his health made it easier for me and my siblings to prioritize it.

And the data around a father’s impact on his children’s health is shocking.

• If parents have obesity in their midlife, their children are 6x more likely to have obesity at the same age. And the father’s BMI has more impact than the mother’s (more)

• An overweight/obese father and a healthy weight mother significantly increases the odds of child obesity. But in the reverse scenario, an overweight/obese mother and a healthy weight father was not a significant predictor of childhood obesity (more)

• Children of active mothers are 2x more likely to be active than children of inactive mothers. But children of active fathers are 3.5x more likely to be active than children of inactive fathers. And when both parents are active, children are 5.8x likely to be active (more)

More is caught than taught.

Catch the vision for what’s possible here.

• What happens if a father models physical discipline for his children?

• What happens if a father shows his children how to eat well?

• What happens if a father teaches his kids how to exercise and have fun while doing it?

Generational impact.

If you are a father, you have an incredible opportunity to make health decisions easier for your kids.

Which then makes it easier for your children’s children.

What an awesome opportunity the Lord has given us.

P.S. This reminds me a bit of the generational impact a father has on his great-grandchildren from Psalm 78:5-8.

If you liked this, check out the Layman’s Fitness Newsletter, where I release similar content like this every week.

The information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.