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Baby has fat thighs and jelly belly? Dad's diet may be to blame
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- A new Brazilian study reveals that a father's consumption of ultra-processed foods like soda, chips, and fast food is linked to higher birth weight and increased fat in babies, potentially affecting their long-term health.
- The research highlights the father's diet as a significant factor in infant health outcomes, an area traditionally focused on maternal nutrition.
- Ultra-processed foods may influence sperm through inflammation and epigenetic changes, particularly affecting the IGF-II gene responsible for fetal growth.
- While fathers' junk food intake correlates with heavier babies, maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods in early pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight and smaller size at birth due to nutrient deficiencies.
- Avoiding ultra-processed foods is important as they are linked to numerous health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and premature death, and are characterized by artificial additives and synthetic ingredients.
