Obesity Predetermined in the Womb
Study Demonstrates Body Type May be Determined Before Birth
Mar 12, 2009
The prevalence of obesity is increasing world wide. According to the Canadian Heart Health Survey, close to half of Canadians are overweight and one in six is obese. Moreover, Canadian children are also becoming progressively overweight and obese.
Why this is happening is not as simple as you might first think. Body type may be predetermined in the womb. And when it comes to central obesity, the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area, researchers indicate obesity may be rooted in fetal life.
Researchers Confirm Obesity is Partly Determined in the Womb
In a recent study, scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute, in London Ontario, lead by Dr. Kaiping Yang, have confirmed that central obesity is in part determined while you are still in the womb.
This underscores the critical importance of proper prenatal health and nutrition, explained Lawson's scientific director Dr. David Hill in a press release from Lawson Health Research Institute.
Researchers at Lawson's explained the discovery that the number of fat cells we have in our body and their propensity to replicate is largely determined before we are born, may impact the way we approach the control of obesity.
Proper Prenatal Health and Nutrition is Important
Over the past few years, population-based studies have identified a relationship between low birth weight and the incidence of central obesity. However, this is the first study to clearly demonstrate that poor early nutrition can lead to the development of excessive numbers of fat cells later in life.
The study made use of an animal model in which low birth weight was induced by restricting the protein intake of pregnant rats. "What we found was that maternal protein restriction led to low birth weight and subsequent development of central obesity in the offspring," said Dr. Yang.
Some People Will Have to Work Harder to Stay Slim
The increase in fat mass was primarily due to an increase in the number of fat cells in the body, indicated Dr. Yang. The researchers also found fat tissue gene expression profiles had been altered in a way that greatly favoured fat cell replication and new blood vessel formation. What this could mean is that some people will have to work a lot harder to stay slim.
Central Obesity Leading Risk Factor for Disease
Recent scientific studies have shown that central obesity, rather than overall obesity, is the leading risk factor for hypertension, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
There is very little known about the incidence of central obesity in Canada or elsewhere, but it is likely more prevalent then general obesity.
The fact that some people may be born with a greater tendency to gain weight and will have to work harder to lose this weight may be an "unfortunate product of our biology," says Dr. Irene Hramiak, Lawson Program Leader, Metabolism and Diabetes, Physician Endocrinology, St. Joseph's Health Care London, in London, Ontario.
"Given that obesity is notoriously difficult to treat, prevention is the key to containing this epidemic," stressed Lawson scientist Dr. Edith Arany.
Understanding the Causes of Obesity Important
One major impediment to effective prevention and treatment of obesity has historically been the lack of a thorough understanding of its causes. Drs. Yang, Hill, Arany and the research team at Lawson view their study as a first step to providing valuable insights into understanding why some people struggle with obesity.
This is why funding research is vital to the understanding of diseases and the root causes. And the relationship between poverty, poor nutrition and diseases, cannot be ignored. If we are to prevent and reduce obesity and related diseases, it is imperative to address the social and nutritional issues that contribute to obesity.
