theIndusParent Logo
theIndusParent Logo
  • Pregnancy
    • Fertility & Conception
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Post-delivery Care
    • Miscarriage
    • 9 Months
  • Baby
    • Development
    • Breastfeeding
    • Weaning
    • Health
    • Behaviour
    • Gear & Wear
    • Baby Names
    • Nine Months-0 to 1
  • Toddler
    • Development
    • Health
    • Behaviour
    • Life Skills
    • Trendy Wear
    • 9 Months Season 3: Toddler Years
  • Pre-teen
    • Development
    • Health
    • Education
    • Behaviour
    • Lifeskills
    • Fashion
  • Mums
    • Awesome Working Mums
    • Celeb Mums
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Sex
    • Labour Story
  • Health
    • Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Home Remedies
    • Chakra Healing
    • Experts' Corner
  • Family & Leisure
    • Relationships
    • For Dads
    • Essential Life Tips
    • Money
    • Recipes
    • Celebrations
    • Travel
    • Vastu
    • Astrology
    • Baby Photos
    • Video
    • Events & Workshops
    • Review
    • Contest
  • हिंदी
  • தமிழ்
  • বাংলা
  • Video

A man's weight can affect the genes passed on by his sperm, shows study

2 min read
A man's weight can affect the genes passed on by his sperm, shows studyA man's weight can affect the genes passed on by his sperm, shows study

Did you know that a man's weight affects genes in his sperm that determine a child's appetite and brain development?

Parents want to give their offspring the best start in life to set them up for success. This is why they are more than willing to buy organic baby food and sign them up for sports classes.

But what if raising healthy kids starts before they are even conceived? That is what a new study from Denmark has uncovered.

We all acknowledge that eating right and exercising will improve our personal health, but this research shows that a man's weight affects genes passed on by his sperm to his future children.

Although the genetic code remains the same, there were "epigenetic changes" to the genes that have been linked to appetite control and brain development. This means that the mechanisms that determine which genes are expressed change right along with a man's body weight.

The Study

The first part of the study involved comparing the sperm of lean and obese men. Researchers saw different epigenetic marks differentiating the two groups, which really is not much of a surprise.

It was the second part of the study that was more revealing: The sperm of six men were analyzed before (while they were still considered obese), one week after they underwent a weight-loss procedure called a gastric-bypass surgery and one year after (by then, they had each lost about 60lbs).

Just one week after the surgery, 3,000 epigenetic mark changes were detected in the men's sperm. One year later, the figure rose to more than 5,000!

The Conclusion

While more studies are needed, Associate Professor Romain Barrès concludes, "Weight loss in fathers may influence the eating behaviour of their future children."

In a separate interview, Dr. Ida Donkin adds, "Hopefully, in the long run, an increased public awareness of the impact of our pre-conceptional behavior can help us prevent inheritance of especially metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes."

It is more obvious that women should take care of themselves before, during and after pregnancy, but men must also be aware that their lifestyle choices have an impact on their future children's health.

READ: Should I be Taking Prenatal Vitamins?

How did you and your partner prepare before conceiving?

If you have any thoughts on our article, please share in the Comment box below.

Partner Stories
109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life
109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life
4 things parents should not do for their children
4 things parents should not do for their children
Kids at Harm in Maids' Hands
Kids at Harm in Maids' Hands
These are the best sexual positions for quicker conception
These are the best sexual positions for quicker conception

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theIndusparent.com

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Naivete del Rosario

  • Home
  • /
  • Fertility & Conception
  • /
  • A man's weight can affect the genes passed on by his sperm, shows study
Share:
  • Infertility Issues And How You Can Discuss Them Openly

    Infertility Issues And How You Can Discuss Them Openly

  • 109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life
    Partner Stories

    109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life

  • Want happy and healthy kids? Follow Rujuta Diwekar's 5 golden mantras

    Want happy and healthy kids? Follow Rujuta Diwekar's 5 golden mantras

app info
get app banner
  • Infertility Issues And How You Can Discuss Them Openly

    Infertility Issues And How You Can Discuss Them Openly

  • 109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life
    Partner Stories

    109-year-old woman shares her secret to long life

  • Want happy and healthy kids? Follow Rujuta Diwekar's 5 golden mantras

    Want happy and healthy kids? Follow Rujuta Diwekar's 5 golden mantras

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Ages + Stages
    • Baby
    • Baby Concerns
    • Baby Development
    • Baby Formula Feeding
    • Baby health
    • Baby Milestones
    • Breastfeeding
  • Family Life
    • Family & Leisure
    • Essential Tips
    • Family Fun
    • Events
    • For Dads
    • For Mum and Dad
  • Health & Wellness
    • India
    • International
    • Lifestyle
    • Kid's Entertainment
    • Indoor
    • Learning Activities
  • Toddler
    • Toddler Behaviour
    • Toddler Development
    • Toddler Discipline
    • Toddler Education
    • Toddler Health
    • Toddler Life Skills
  • Gallery
    • News
    • Celebrity
    • Features
    • Bollywood
    • Video
    • Marriage
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it