Why eldest child is the unhealthiest of them all

FIRST-BORN children are less healthy than their younger siblings, a study has found.

From obesity to high blood pressure, it seems being the eldest child is not always an advantage.

And while first-borns have their parents’ undivided attention, more pressure of having to succeed than younger siblings may be the reason they have more health issues.

For the study, US scientists looked the health records of almost 400,000 Norwegians over 25 years, focusing on markers of an unhealthy lifestyle, such as weight and high blood pressure.

They found that the probability of having high blood pressure declined with birth order. Secondborns are about 3 per cent less likely to have high blood pressure than first-borns, while fifth-borns are 7 per cent less likely.

Being the eldest also means you have more chance of being overweight or obese. First-borns are

More likely to be overweight

4 per cent more likely to be overweight and 2 per cent more likely to be obese than second-borns.

The scientists also found higher levels of triglycerides – a form of dietary fat made by the liver – in the eldest siblings.

Lead author Professor Sandra Black, of the University of Texas at Austin, suggested that this may be because elder children are more driven than younger ones.

She said: ‘First-borns are often perceived to be intense and career-orientated. High blood pressure and triglycerides may be caused by the stress that results.’

However, the study, published in the journal Economics and Human Biology, found that there are some advantages to being the eldest – you are more likely to be happy.

Younger siblings score lower on well-being, with fifth-borns being 9 per cent less likely than first-borns to report contentment in life.