Working moms and obesity

Hard on the heels of another study my local paper cited noting that mothers working outside the home had no discernible effects on children's well being comes this study noting that the children of mothers who worked outside the home are six times more likely to be overweight or obese.  (H/T Vox Populi)

Now while there are certainly other factors involved (I would have to guess socioeconomic status, presence of the father, and such are linked), I'd have to guess that a big part of the issue is that a mother is far more likely to care whether Junior parks his rear end in front of the idiot box or computer with the Super Big Gulp and a bag of chips than is the daycare provider.

So if you want to reduce obesity, reduce medical costs from heart disease and diabetes, and improve family stability, work to end subsidies for daycare providers.  Given that incentives to fatherless households are strongly linked to crime and poverty, it might be the best thing to do fo the country short of ending corn subsidies.