Fatherhood harms men's heart health and impacts life expectancy

Researchers from Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have found that the cardiovascular health of fathers is often worse than that of childless men.

AJPM Focus published the results of this research. The researchers analyzed factors such as diet, exercise, smoking, weight, blood pressure, and blood lipid/glucose levels. They found that as fathers age, their cardiovascular health deteriorates more than that of their childless counterparts.


Researchers believe that the additional responsibilities and stress associated with fatherhood make it difficult for fathers to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Lack of time and resources may prevent them from exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet.

However, the study also revealed an interesting paradox: despite poorer cardiovascular health, fathers had a lower overall mortality rate compared to childless men. Researchers explain this by the fact that fathers benefit from stronger social support systems and the presence of their adult children as future caregivers.

Young fathers, those who had their first child before age 25, showed the worst heart health outcomes and also higher mortality rates, especially among Black and Hispanic men. Scientists believe that socioeconomic factors, such as financial instability, make it very difficult for these young fathers to prioritize their health.

For this unprecedented multiethnic study, researchers analyzed data from 2,814 men aged 45 to 84 participating in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). By tracking and comparing these cardiovascular health factors between fathers and childless men over time, the researchers were able to analyze the impact of fatherhood on heart health as they age. Their rigorous analysis, adjusted for potential confounding variables, highlighted these striking results.

Dr. John James Parker, the study's lead author, emphasizes the importance of studying fathers as a unique population and tracking the health outcomes of men becoming fathers. According to him, cardiovascular health is particularly important as health behaviors and factors are all modifiable.