Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S.. All bodies are designed genetically different-- from our skin, to our, hair, and to even our body type. Research has shown that BMI is 25-40 percent inheritable, meaning that if large parents have a child, it is more likely that the child will be large himself.
In 2013, researchers at UCLA, funded by the National Institute of Health, did a study on mice. The study gave 100 different strains of mice the same normal diet for eight weeks, followed by a high-fat diet for the next eight weeks. They were able to determine that some mice gained zero body fat, while other mice had body fat increases of up to 600 percent. The differences in body fat percentage can be mostly attributed to genetics.
The scientists were further able to identify 11 genetic regions, which are associated with weight gain and obesity in the mice, some, which overlap genes with humans that are linked to obesity. While this is just a beginning study, more research is needed to see if scientists can find a weight to target “fat genes” with drugs and other treatments. Dr. Brian Parks is a study co-author and a postdoctoral researcher at the Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is quoted as stating, “If we understand how genetic factors influenced so much of the population to become obese, we could potentially reverse it with more research.” This could potentially lead to genetic testing in newborn babies to check for a “fat gene,” and starting prevention and treatment at an even earlier point.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska argue that good health starts during the gestation period; before the child is born. A mother's poor nutrition habits can directly affect the likelihood of having an obese child. Obesity is now being linked to maternal pregnancy diet, with a concentration on protein intake. The researchers recently conducted a survey, using pregnant rats as the vector. Their research concluded that rats that were on a low protein diet were more likely to have offspring who suffered from hypertension, and possibly type two diabetes.
Other studies have shown that low protein intake in pregnant women, especially during the last tri-mester, leads to a lower birth weight. A lower birth weight has been shown to be a primary indicator for future metabolic disorders and a predisposition for obesity. The best way to combat low protein intake and other diet concerns for pregnant mothers is through education. Nutritionists and other healthcare providers, armed with this research, can start to make a clear and convincing argument on the importance of nutrition to their expecting mothers.
Just as important as the genetic disposition and the maternal diet of the mother is the nutrition of the child. Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn, and the same is true for children. There are also healthier calories than others. For example, three cookies may be 200 calories, as is a yogurt parfait. The yogurt parfait, however, is more nutritional for you than the cookies due to the fact it contains “good” calories such as calcium.
The Nestle feeding infants and toddlers survey (FITS) has become a leading voice on this issue. Working through the Nestle Nutrition Institute, this survey has been conducted twice - in 2002 and 2008. This survey found that, even by the age of two, American toddlers have developed the unhealthy eating habits of adults.
Even more alarming, 1 in 4 American toddlers did not eat a fruit or vegetable in a given day. In reference, what a mother eats while pregnant is what the child is more likely to enjoy eating, according to researchers. Fetuses exposed to foods through amniotic fluids are more likely to enjoy eating those foods as infants. Infants exposed to healthy flavors in the mother’s breast milk, which can be achieved when the mother has good nutrition, are also more likely to develop a liking for that food. Therefore, the mother’s nutrition will play a vital role in the determination of her child’s taste preferences.
