Firstborn Girls Heavier Than Siblings?

[Calliegirl]

Interesting study. Does anyone find this to be true in their family? I'm the firstborn and I am heavier than my sister.

Women who are firstborn children tend to be heavier than their younger sisters — and it's got nothing to do with genetics, researchers say.

A new study of more than 26,000 Swedish women found that firstborns were nearly 30 percent more likely to be overweight and 40 percent more likely to be obese than their younger siblings were...

Firstborn girl? Scientists find an unexpected disadvantage

 

[KLS52]

Hmmmm...it is interesting. My sister is firstborn and has always been heavier than me.

My firstborn daughter is heavier than my younger daughter and son but only since being on medication. All three were always on the thin side.

Looking at my cousins, the theory does not hold true.

I guess it's ok to say as a generalization. There will always be the exceptions to the rule.

 

[Second Summer]

I'm confused as to how this mechanism only works on females. Or do they not mention males because the study only looked at females?

 

[ledboots]

I'm confused as to how this mechanism only works on females. Or do they not mention males because the study only looked at females?

Probably because women's weight is more of a thing in society than men's.

 

[Calliegirl]

I'm confused as to how this mechanism only works on females. Or do they not mention males because the study only looked at females?

They did mention males in one short paragraph.

The new findings are in line with similar research on the impact of birth order on men, which found that firstborn males were not only more likely to be heavier, but also more likely to develop high blood pressure and insulin resistance than were their younger brothers.

 

[Second Summer]

They did mention males in one short paragraph.

Well, I only read the headlines, apparently!

 

[Moll Flanders]

That explains why I'm fat! Ha, it does seem like that is the case when I think about my female cousins and aunts. It's strange but I hadn't noticed that pattern before.

They did mention males in one short paragraph.

Hmm, interesting. Insulin resistance has a link with type 2 diabetes and my father and my uncle had type 2 and they were both the firstborn males in their family.

 

[PTree15]

For a long time, I was heavier than my younger sister, but now it's the other way around, though we aren't that far apart, weight-wise.

 

[Scorpius]

This isn't the case in my family. Even before I developed an eating disorder, my sister was always a bit heavier than me. She ended up having gastric bypass surgery the same week I went into treatment for anorexia. Talk about extremes.

I would also be interested in reading the actual study. News outlets have a special way of spinning the actual science in a way that is provocative and attention-grabbing. The results of the original study have may as well have been statistically inconclusive, but still good enough to warrant this story. For instance, it seems that the only siblings they mention are 15 years apart in age. That's quite the age gap. I feel like 'studies' that investigate weight gain and dietary patterns tend to get A LOT more press than other subjects as apparently: ". . . so many of us are fat.", according to this write-up.

ETA: for an idea of what I'm talking about, check this out: I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How.

 

[Freesia]

Doesnt apply to me, I am the youngest.

 

[ledboots]

I am the middle child and the thinnest. Older sister has always been heavy, and my younger brother too since about age 40

 

[Kenickie]

how silly. i am the eldest daughter, and have always been the thinnest, and was the tallest for a very long time . my youngest sister is a tower of power at 6'0 and athletic. my middle sister is shorter and round.

 

[Katrina]

I don't have any sisters. My brother and I are both slim, always have been. Of my female cousins, neither have sisters, and both are slim. My mother and aunt both look about the same to me, not like I notice minor differences.

 

[Second Summer]

I don't have any sisters. My brother and I are both slim, always have been. Of my female cousins, neither have sisters, and both are slim. My mother and aunt both look about the same to me, not like I notice minor differences.

Are you or your brother your mother's firstborn child? It doesn't matter since you said you're both slim, but I think the finding in the study was that firstborns, if they were girls (the study only looked at girls), tended the get heavier. And then there were apparently other studies mentioned that found the same for boys. So, firstborns, regardless of sex, are heavier. So says the Science.

 

[Katrina]

My brother is the firstborn. He is heavier because he is taller than me. I assumed the study compared sisters with sisters and brothers with brothers. Ah well.