- These men have sons who carry an extra five to 10kg of fat on average
- The same does not apply to the sons of men who started smoking later
- It suggests boys are particularly sensitive to environment before puberty
09:25 EST, 2 April 2014
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09:27 EST, 2 April 2014
Men who start smoking before their teens have fatter sons, according to new research.
Scientists claim men who were already smoking regularly before the age of 11 have sons with five to 10kg more body fat than average.
The effect was not seen in the sons of men who started smoking later, suggesting boys are particularly sensitive to environmental exposures before the start of puberty.
Men who smoke regularly before the age of 11 have sons with five to 10kg more body fat than average
The latest research from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol could prove that exposure to tobacco smoke at this key age leads to metabolic changes in the next generation.
Senior author of the study, Professor Marcus Pembrey, said: ‘This discovery of trans-generational effects has big implications for research into the current rise in obesity and the evaluation of preventative measures.
‘It is no longer acceptable to just study lifestyle factors in one generation.
‘We are probably missing a trick with respect to understanding several common diseases of public health concern by ignoring the possible effects of previous generations.’
Researchers questioned 9,886 fathers – 54 per cent of whom were smokers at some time and three per cent of whom reported smoking regularly before the age of 11.
The sons of the men were weighed at 13, 15 and 17, and it emerged the sons of the early smokers had the highest BMIs every time, compared with those who started smoking later or never smoked.
The findings suggest boys are particularly sensitive to their environments before puberty
Whole body scans also showed these boys had far higher levels of fat – ranging from an extra 5kg to 10kg – between ages 13 and 17.
The effect, although present, was not seen to the same degree in daughters.
Scientists also took other factors into account – including genetics and the father’s weight – but none could explain the change.
And in fact, they discovered that fathers who started smoking before 11 tended to have lower BMIs on average.
The research was funded by the UK Medical Research Council.
Professor David Lomas, chair of the MRC’s population and systems medicine board, said: ‘Population studies have provided a wealth of information about health and disease, including first identifying the link between smoking and cancer more than 60 years ago.
‘This research clearly demonstrates that such studies have so much more to give, which is why it’s vital that the future potential of cohorts and the studies they make possible is not jeopardised by the proposed EU data regulations.’
The study was published today in the European Journal of Human Genetics.
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Grandpa Broon,
Auchenshoogle, United Kingdom,
24 minutes ago
No they don’t. When will Medical Science stop passing off lies as scientific study?
Ciara,
Dublin,
42 minutes ago
This is to do with the society/social class those men grow up in, the smoking isn’t a factor. Or am I the only sane person reading this article?
sirmobil,
Livingston, United Kingdom,
44 minutes ago
Wow this story is really informative,wonder if they know that boys who are allowed to spend all their time watching tv video games can usually be fatter as well
fooseball,
Richmond Hill, United States,
59 minutes ago
Disappointed to discover that @cause is not followed by @effect….
Lou,
London, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Yeah right, I believe you, thousands wouldn’t.
DB1,
Nottingham ENGLAND, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Looking at North Koreas leader and the leader before him they may have a point with this “theoryâ€.
The Realist,
Ye Olde Devonshire, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
You don’t have to be a complete idiot to be a DM ‘reporter’, but it helps.
Marie,
Bury,
1 hour ago
What rubbish my father smoked and not one of my brothers are fat.
me,
the north,
1 hour ago
Perhaps is more to do with the social classes involved – smoking fathers are more likely to be scuffers , scuffers feed their kids rubbish so they have fat kids. The smoking is not a cause, it’s just another symptom of the underlying issue of being a scuffer.
Ericjimbob,
Tunbridge Wells, UK,
1 hour ago
There is no way this can be established – just think how or where the data could reside. Yes, quite right it doesn’t.
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