It’s a common excuse. People say “it’s my gene pool, it’s my family” when explaining away their obesity problems. But a recent study has actually shown that obesity has nothing to do with genes or family lines. Interesting right? There are no predestined and unavoidable problems in terms of obesity. According to the New Zealand based scientists, “bad genes” is nothing more than a myth. Obesity is more determined apparently by early childhood nutrition or lack thereof.
When a mother is malnourished or otherwise isn’t taking care of herself during the pregnancy, the baby is affected. This does not mean the mother should eat more, but rather more nutrients and high quality foods. In addition, babies, toddlers, etc. are taught their eating habits by their parents, and children and adults rarely break out of that cycle. They become comfortable. And because of mom’s bad habits, some bodies also stop efficiently storing the right nutrients.
Rats have responded the same way. Well fed and malnourished rats were given leptin to allow them to achieve a feeling of fullness. They checked the liver’s metabolism levels to measure results. Those rats from healthy mothers reacted to the leptin by eating less and a more balanced diet as would be expected. Those from malnourished mothers on the other hand reacted the exact opposite way.
In humans, even if the mother is malnourished during pregnancy, the problem can be resulted with a healthy diet for the child in early childhood. But after early childhood, the problems are relatively irreversible.
So, for mothers looking to improve the future prospects of their children, first change your own eating habits. Cut down on simple carbs such as bread and rice, eat more fruits and vegetables, eat seeds such as sesame seeds and sunflower seeds, and cut out sugar from desserts. If you do all these things you will not only nourish a healthy fetus. You will change your own eating habits and the future eating habits that you teach your children.