Parental employment, family routines and childhood obesity

► I use the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Kindergarten Class of 1998-1999 (ECLS-K) to investigate the relationships among maternal employment, family routines and obesity. ► I find that family routines do vary significantly with maternal employment intensity. ► I find that the impact of family routines and of maternal employment on children's obesity are similar whether included in the regression alone or together. ► I conclude that family routines cannot explain the deleterious effect maternal employment intensity has on children's obesity.