University of Utah researchers say having a large number of offspring could be detrimental to the health of parents. The study,
based on data collected from 21,000 couples who lived in Utah between
1860 and 1985, said parents with higher numbers of children are more
likely to have ill health and die younger. The study said this is
especially acute in women. Furthermore, it was found the more children couples had, the worse their health and the more likely they were to die early.
Far be it from me to cast doubt on the veracity of these University
of Utah scholars who clearly have spent much time researching this subject.
However, as I often do, I have to laugh at the resulting headlines that
have emerged from this study. Large families BAD for parents! Want to
live longer? Have fewer kids! Small families key to a longer life!
Basically, I have a hard time taking a study seriously that fails to
account for the advances in medicine since 1860. Just the advances in
prenatal and maternal care alone would seem to skew their data. And
what about the multitudes of women's lives saved over the years by
C-sections or pre-natal exams? On the other hand, I've got a two-year old daughter that we're
dealing with right now. We've had a few moments already that I'm sure
have shaved a few years of my life.
Maybe there is something to this
study. What do you think?
