Overweight adults may be able to blame their offspring after a US study found adults living with children eat more fat than others.
Those living with children ate the equivalent of almost a pepperoni pizza of saturated fat each week compared with adults in a childless household.
The work, in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, was based on surveys of 6,600 adults.
The authors recommended more work to investigate the causes behind the link.
Lead researcher Helena Laroche, from the University of Iowa, explained: "The study does not prove that the presence of children causes adults to eat more fat; people living with children may have different eating habits for many reasons."
"You can see why it happens - it is difficult if your child leaves a triangle of pizza from their lunch not to gobble it down"
Adults with children in the home ate more "convenience" foods such as ice cream, pizza and salty snacks.
Their diet led to an additional 4.9 grams of fat each day, including 1.7 grams of saturated fat, which is linked to heart disease.
The authors believe the differences they found might be down to time pressures, advertising aimed at children that also includes adults, or adults' perception that children will eat only "hotdogs or macaroni and cheese".
Temptation
Ms Laroche said: "Once these foods are in the house, even if bought for the children, adults appear more likely to eat them."
Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum said: "We are leading our children astray and going along with them, falling into the same trap by having crisps when they have crisps.
"It is difficult if your child leaves a triangle of pizza from their lunch not to gobble it down, but put it in the bin. You can see why it happens."
The investigators recommended more research into whether the ages of the children has any bearing. The current study looked at adults ages 17 to 65 living with and without children aged under 17.
The authors also stressed changes to habits needed to focus on the entire household, not just individuals.
Dr Haslam agreed saying: "It does have to be team work, not just the family, but the extended family, friends and school. It is no good giving children a healthy diet if they are still getting all their cakes and biscuits at granny's house."
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