Obesity runs in families, probably because no one runs in the family.
The study was conducted on mice, and had two groups. One group of mice was fed a nutritious diet, while the other was fed a fast-food type diet that speeded up the weight gain process, without any indication of diabetes. All the mice were then mated with normal, diet fed female mice. The offspring they produced were further mated with normal mice, for a further set of offspring. It was then noted that both the generations of offspring had metabolic disorders, and diabetes.
The researchers studied the RNA in the sperms of the obese mice, and found that there were changes in those molecules. These, in turn, were held responsible for the development of obesity and diabetes in the offspring. The research also suggests that these adverse effects are passed down to the following generation as well.
If these findings prove true in human too, it could be something that everyone needs to sit up, and take notice of.
The weight of the father has a direct relation to his child’s future health, including obesity, and metabolic disorders like diabetes.
The researchers say that fathers should be in optimum health at the time of conception, so they can pass on their good health to their babies too.
Obesity has been a health hazard for expectant mothers. Now it is being found that expectant fathers too have the same problem!
We owe good health to our children. If not for ourselves, we can try and be healthy for our children at least.
