London, Apr 8 (IANS): A study has shown that women, who work part-time are likely to have healthier children than those of stay-at-home mothers or full-time working mothers.

The research led by researchers from Murdoch Children's Research Institute, in Melbourne, Australia has shown that children of part-time working mothers ate fewer unhealthy meals, watched less television and were more physically active than other youngsters the same age.

"What we're seeing is that mums who work part-time are better able to balance their work demands with family life and are more able to monitor their children's eating habits and activities, which has direct health benefits for children," telegraph.co.uk quoted Prof Jan Nicholson, from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, in Melbourne, Australia as saying.

"We need to find ways to provide full-time working parents with the ability to do that by promoting family-friendly work policies," she added.

Nicholson said that it was still unclear why children whose mothers did not work were more likely to be obese.

She said: "It is possible that work, when it allows mothers to balance the demands of home and family, may lead to mothers spending more time with their children on activities that have benefits for their children's healthy lifestyles."