The New York Times, not exactly a paper known for promoting traditional values, just published a piece that caught my attention, titled “Behind Every Dad Bod Is a Healthy Dad Brain“.

Yes, I paid attention in part because, as a father of two toddlers, the Dad Bod struggle is real.

There are days I wistfully recall simpler times, when almost every minute outside of work was my own — when there were no limits on investing in my health, fitness and wellbeing… not that I always leveraged it.

I am, however, reassured by the trade-off: family life has been far more meaningful and satisfying for me than singleness. This is more than just a personal anecdote: the data backs it up.

Becoming a Dad and Brain Health

But now the Times is suggesting it’s less of a trade-off and more like the best of both worlds. Here’s what clinical psychologist Darby Saxbe wrote in that article:

Men who prioritise fatherhood may lose some sleep, gain some extra weight and enjoy less free time, but they can also discover a richer life with greater meaning, purpose and connection. And when it comes to brain health and mental fitness, becoming a father is one of the best things you can do.

Some of the benefits of fatherhood that she raises are almost self-evident. “Children inspire us to exercise our social brain, improve our connections with others and pursue healthier lifestyles,” she explains. “As anyone who has talked a 3-year-old out of an epic tantrum knows, raising young children requires us to hone our negotiating skills and cultivate patience.”

But most of her observations are scientific. Consider the data points she shares:

• Men’s relationship satisfaction at 50 predicts their physical health at 80 more reliably than their cholesterol levels do.
• A study of over 36,000 participants found that fathers’ brains appeared measurably younger than those of childless men — a pattern that held across middle and older age.
• Dads have measurably younger-looking brains than childless men — a gap similar to the brain benefit of exercising 2.5 hours a week.
• Parents show livelier brain connectivity than childless adults — with the regions most strengthened by parenthood being the same regions most weakened by ageing.
• Another study found fathers outscored childless men across all five cognitive domains tested.

Saxbe notes that modern men are taking on a much greater share of childrearing than the fathers of earlier generations. As such, she concedes, “New fathers are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than men in the general population. They can experience some physical health fallout, too, like lost sleep and extra pounds.”

But if they “weather the hard parts,” she qualifies, the longer-term health and longevity rewards of fatherhood are theirs for the taking.

Modern Science Catching Up with Ancient Scripture

As a Christian, I am regularly encouraged — but never surprised — that the findings of modern science align with what the ancient Scriptures have always said about fatherhood and family.

Among those that come to mind: “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3). And: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them” (Psalm 127:4–5).

God, who sits outside of time and knows the human body better than the world’s best scientists, no doubt anticipated the findings Saxbe shared in her article.

Saxbe concludes:

In learning how to care for children, fathers develop their empathy, build their brains and cultivate skills that can enhance their organisations and communities. Ultimately, the traits of a good dad are also the traits of a good man: strength coupled with a willingness to look out for the young and vulnerable, to teach but also listen, to lead by example, to tackle daunting challenges and to persevere with grit.

While the Dad Bod challenge remains, on just about every other metric, married fathers are the most blessed male demographic on the planet.

And as a father myself, I could not recommend the lifestyle more highly.

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Image via Adobe.