Do Men with Dad Bods Spend More Time with Their Kids?

By Lorra Garrick | Last updated 11/26

Or do they spend more time on the couch watching TV and playing videogames? A dad-bod implies LESS time with the kids, not more.

Certainly, someone with the “dad-bod” may be highly physically active with their children.

It’s definitely possible that he takes them on hikes, runs around with them at the park, participates in family kickball, frisbee and tag games, etc.

And though there’s more to being a good father than just physically exerting oneself, keep in mind that high fitness goes a long way at having sustained energy from morning till nighttime, so that a man doesn’t feel like collapsing on the couch for several hours after coming home from his physical job.

As a lifelong fitness enthusiast, it really bugs me that a body that appears out of shape has been branded as a dad-bod.

The irony is that this is the very type of body that, in years past, has been strongly associated with a couch potato lifestyle.

So which is it? Are devoted fathers usually flabby? Does lack of muscle tone or a body that looks non-athletic mean he’s more involved with his kids?

Does a physique that looks sedentary and unable to complete an obstacle course without huffing and puffing suggest that this individual spends a lot of time helping his young son build model airplanes, playing chess with his adolescent daughter and taking them all over town on weekends?

Can we really judge how involved a man is with his kids by how fit his body appears, by whether or not it’s trained and “hard” vs. mushy and soft?

It’s logical to deduce that a man who prizes the importance of fitness will pass this down to his kids.

Many times I’ve seen quality time between father and son at the gym. He looks spanking fit, and his teen son looks athletic and fast.

A fit, strong body means a more durable brain (adding muscle is an example), and a healthy brain means more resolve to tackle life’s curveballs in an effective manner.

A healthy strong body means much less of a likelihood that Dad will turn to smoking and drinking to combat stress.

Instead he’ll be outside shooting baskets, jogging, running around in the park with the dog, at a climbing gym or riding bikes with his kids, rather than chowing down junk food while playing videogames.

Let’s end the era of equating the dad-bod with generous time spent with one’s kids.

Love handles and a paunchy tummy don’t mean he’s there for his children.