Overeating gene 'developed in the womb'

Thursday, 10 March 2011 4:45 PM

Overeating and adult obesity has been linked to an essential stem cell change that happens in the womb.

A mother's poor nutritional intake can affect her future child's ability to make good food choices.

A recent study carried out by LA BioMed has provided a further understanding of the link between low birth weights and obesity later in life.

The study by a team of researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) found nutritionally deprived newborns are "programmed" to eat more because they develop less neurons in the region of the brain that controls food intake.

Previous studies have found a small size at birth followed by accelerated "catch-up" growth is associated with an increased risk of adult obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis.

"This study demonstrates the importance of maternal nutrition and health in reducing obesity," said principal investigator Dr Mina Desai, "Obesity and its related diseases are the leading cause of death in our society, yet we have few effective strategies for prevention or treatment.”

The researchers also discovered that, in addition to obesity, altered brain (neural stem cells) development suggest that poor growth in the womb may be associated with cognitive and behavioural alterations.

Obese people show different brain patterns

Overeating may be a result of brain activity

It was previously thought individuals who overeat are compensating for a lack of pleasure hormones in the brain. But new research suggests their 'reward centre' is already stimulated before eating and obesity may thus be a result of an active brain.

 Fat from fast food can block the arteries

More evidence links high fat meals to heart attacks

Obese Brits are more susceptible to high fat meals, as more evidence links belly fat, inflammation and thickening of the arteries. New research at UC Davis found individuals with a large waist held more fat molecules in the blood.
Children should not be overweight aged four

A third of toddlers are overweight, according to parents

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the UK and even parents are not in denial any more. New research found a hird of parents of children under the age of four believe that their child is overweight, but 22% of these parents claimed to be unconcerned.

 Family meals can prevent health problems

'Family meals key to heading off eating disorders'

Including teenagers in family meals is key to heading off problems such as eating disorders, obesity and inadequate nutrition, researchers claim. A study shows even sitting down to just three family meals a week can be enough to safeguard the health of teens in ‘significant ways’.

Green tea may help slow weight gain

Green tea 'may help slow weight gain'

Green tea has many anti-oxidant benefits and many believe it can help with water retention and even prevent weight gain. A new study in the US found mice given a compound found in green tea gained weight more slowly than other mice on the same diet.

 Yo-yo dieting can be caused by food treats

Food rewards 'lead to yo-yo and extreme diets'

If you were given high fat foods as treats as a child, you are more likely to diet as an adult. A survey found people who were rewarded with food as children were also significantly more likely to have a history of dieting - 34% compared to 25%.
A restaurant salad may contain hidden calories

Beware the unhealthy salad

Are you on a permanent diet and prone to skip straight to the 'salad' section of any restaurant menu? Experts are warning once again that salads are often more calorific than other food choices, while confusing labelling can derail your diet.

 Faddy diets can lead to unhealthy habits

Yo-yo dieting 'damages self-esteem'

Faddy diets can lead to a cycle of yo-yo weight gain and loss that can be damaging to your confidence and self-esteem, experts warn. A poll found more than one in five women (21%) have been on at least five diets and then regained the weight.

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Broccoli helps kill cancer cells

Broccoli helps kill cancer cells

We have long been told about the health benefits of superfoods but now Sulforaphane, one of the primary phytochemicals in broccoli has been proved to selectively target and kill prostate cancer cells, leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected.

Over half of Brits want to shed 'at least a stone'

weight loss

The study commissioned by diet aid manufacturer Slimsticks, also discovered that a worrying one in five people have followed an ‘eating is cheating’ starvation diet and one in ten have tried a liquid diet.

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