Adults with children gain significantly more weight over time than those without kids, according to new research. The study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, examines how different life paths influence weight gain, including timing of first birth, transitioning into parenthood, and living with an adult child. Researchers analyzed data from a national longitudinal survey that tracked changes in body mass index (BMI) levels (a ratio of height to weight) among 3,617 adults over a 15-year period. They found that by age 55, parents reach an average BMI in the obese zone (over 30) and peak at an average BMI of 31 by their mid to late 60s
