How overweight men can influence the weight of their unborn babies – and influence their children’s DNA
Overweight men are more likely to father underweight children, a new study shows.
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo’s Ribeirao Preto Medical School found that obesity can affect the structure and quality of men’s sperm – and affect the DNA of their children.
They examined the weights of 89 parents and their newborn children and found that the larger a man’s waist and BMI, the smaller their baby’s head circumference.
‘Much research has been done on the link between fetal development and the health of the mother, but the fact is that the health of the father also has a significant influence on the development of the baby, both during pregnancy and after birth. birth,” says researcher Dr. Mariana Rinaldi. Carvalho.
‘Our study was the first involving Brazilian families to show that the higher the father’s BMI, the lower the baby’s birth weight, demonstrating the importance of the father to the baby’s health and development.’
Research has shown that babies born at a particularly low weight are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease later in life.
Overweight men are more likely to father underweight children. File image
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo’s Ribeirao Preto Medical School found that obesity can affect the structure and quality of men’s sperm. File image
The study suggests that poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle or smoking can cause changes in the genes passed from father to child.
Babies born to overweight fathers suffer from growth restriction while still in the womb, preventing them from reaching the size and weight they should be.
‘We now know that environmental stressors such as obesity can affect the structure and quality of the father’s sperm, alter gene expression and influence the DNA of his children,’ says Dr Carvalho.
‘Our findings show that nutritional advice for mothers is just as important as the need for a change in fathers’ habits.’