Children of obese parents are inclined to become obese as well, research says.
A study was conducted by the research team of University of Colorado School of Medicine Assistant Professor Kristen Boyle and they studied the link between the in utero environment of obese mothers and the metabolic differences of the child's cells, as per Science Daily.
The trial involved donated umbilical cords of babies with normal weight as well as obese mothers. Boyle's team worked on growing the cords into fat and muscle cells in the research laboratory.
The research findings revealed that the cells taken and grown from the umbilical cords of the offspring of obese mothers have 30 percent higher fat content, as compared to the cells from the umbilical cords of the child of normal weight mothers.
The team arrived at a conclusion that the uterine environment of obese mothers may "program" the cellular make-up of their offspring. The child's cell is prone to increased fat accumulation as well as metabolic variations. This may result to insulin resistance and eventually, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
Further investigation is ongoing and it aims to determine if the cells of the offspring of the obese mothers reveal metabolic alterations. Boyle said that the link between cellular differences in the laboratory and he physiologic status of the children post-delivery.
Boyle added that the next step of the team is to find out if the accumulation of fat and metabolic changes in the cells will persist until adulthood. Also, the team will work out on how the cells make use of fat to generate energy, as per Medical Xpress.
The study findings are being presented at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.