The health legacy you give your children will affect your grandchildren, too

A new University of Melbourne study says men and women should start ensuring the health of their children, not when they’ve decided to become a mom and dad, but as early as adolescence. Thinking about parent duties may seem strange to a 14-year-old depending on Mom and Dad for his or her basic needs. But there is evidence to show that young people who take care of their health today are giving their future babies a headstart in life.

George Patton, lead author of the study which gathered data from 200 countries, can’t emphasize this enough. He states that although the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are “crucially important,” taking action at this point is too late.