[Sabra]

Hi Everyone:

The following research study shows a link to the potential of our children having the tendency to become possibily obese due to what the child's birthmother ate during her pregnancy.

If we know a little bit about our child's birthmother's diet (which may not be possible) we may be able to know the importance of parenting in a manner that teaches good habits of exercise. We would never, or course, wish to put a person down for their choice of diet. (Many birthmothers are going through plenty enough without someone questioning them on their diet. )

If we have a chance to take a our child's birthmother out for a healthy meal that may be good. (Of course we would not wish to over do and recommend the spouts and veggie dish.) I would not insult a birthmother by trying to manage their diet. (Well of course not!!!)

I think the value of an article like this is consider the informatino given just in the same way a bioparent would notice in behaviors in bio children regarding weight gain. For instance if we know that members of our family or ourselves gain weight easily we may wish to make excercise options more available to our children due to the genetics involved. Excercise is great for everyone even if there is not a genetic tendency toward obesity.

It is interesting to use research to help us but not to over react to it. I know it can help me to understand my child and the ways the human body is likely to work. I usually read more than one research study before altering my parenting.

Has anyone else heard of similar studies as this one? Please let us know. (Hope this topic is not hurtful or insulting to anyone. It is meant only as a help to parents to possibily understand their children better.) Thanks.

Here is the article:

Sedentary behavior during postnatal life is determined by the prenatal environment and exacerbated by postnatal hypercaloric nutrition.

Vickers MH, Breier BH, McCarthy D, Gluckman PD.

FRS, Liggins Institute, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Univ. of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

The discovery of a link between in utero experience and later metabolic and cardiovascular disease is one of the most important advances in epidemiology research of recent years. There is now increasing evidence that alterations in the fetal environment have long-term consequences on metabolic and endocrine pathophysiology in adult life. This process has been termed "fetal programming," and we have shown that undernutrition of the mother during gestation leads to obesity, hypertension, hyperphagia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia in offspring. Using this model of maternal undernutrition throughout pregnancy, we investigated whether prenatal influences may lead to alterations in postnatal locomotor behavior, independent of postnatal nutrition. Virgin Wistar rats were time mated and randomly assigned to receive food either ad libitum (ad libitum group) or at 30% of ad libitum intake (undernourished group). Offspring from UN mothers were significantly smaller at birth than AD offspring. At weaning, offspring were assigned to one of two diets [control or hypercaloric (30% fat)]. At ages of 35 days, 145 days, and 420 days, voluntary locomotor activity was assessed. At all ages studied, offspring from undernourished mothers were significantly less active than offspring born of normal birth weight for all parameters measured, independent of postnatal nutrition. Sedentary behavior in programmed offspring was exacerbated by postnatal hypercaloric nutrition. This work is the first to clearly separate prenatal from postnatal effects and shows that lifestyle choices themselves may have a prenatal origin. We have shown that predispositions to obesity, altered eating behavior, and sedentary activity are linked and occur independently of postnatal hypercaloric nutrition. Moreover, the prenatal influence may be permanent as offspring of undernourished mothers were still significantly less active compared with normal offspring at an advanced adult age, even in the presence of a healthy diet throughout postnatal life.

PMID: 12794001 [PubMed - indexed for M

Does anyone know what hyperphagia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia are? Please post.

Thanks.