Obese Parents Could Lead to Daughters’ Breast Cancer Risk

You must have heard this term many times - lose your weight, slim down or get a toned body. The scientists have given another reason to maintain the body weight. According to a study, conducted by the Georgetown University in Washington, a daughter who are conceived when their fathers were obese could face a 30% higher risk of developing breast cancer at a later stage in life.

Till date, the researchers were studying the maternal role in child growth, but for the first time the researchers have extended their research in the field of paternal health and baby’s risk factors. The study further stated that, if parents are looking for a female child with healthy body weight, then it is must that dads should consider their weight.

As per Dr. Sonia de Assis, the study’s lead author “This study provides evidence that, in animals, a father’s body weight at the time of conception affects both their daughters’ body weight, both at birth and in childhood as well as their risk of breast cancer later in life”.

However, the research was done in obese male mice and female mice, though it applies in the case of human also that shows that men with overweight have substantial epigenetic alterations in their sperm as compared to men with appropriate body weight. The study also reveals that both breast cancer and obesity have genetic links. It has been already proved that women who are obese at the time of pregnancy usually give birth to the larger babies. These babies generally have a high risk of breast cancer.

The reason for this finding was stated as - being obese interferes with the microRNA signature in both the daughter’s breast tissue and the dad’s sperm. The microRNA could transmit vital genetic attributes from overweight dads to their daughters.

In conclusion, the researchers have suggested that to control the risk of breast cancer in daughters, both women and men should maintain their body weight and eat a balanced diet. This will not only benefit them but also give a healthy lifestyle to their kids. Thus, the scientist has advised men to consume more folic acid, found in leafy green vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, brussels’ sprouts and fortified cereals.

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