A recent study discovered that a father’s diet as well as body composition at the time of a child’s conception will likely negatively affect the future of his child’s health, in addition to setting him or her up for a greater risk of disease throughout life.
If you’re obese and would like to be a father someday, this should be a big motivation to lose weight. Your children and even your grandchildren could very well inherit your waistline, metabolic disorders as well as a host of diseases and chronic illnesses.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide in South Australia found that in mice, obese fathers who didn’t show any signs of diabetes still passed this trait on to their offspring, more frequently to their daughters. Both sons and daughters of the obese fathers were found to have an increased risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
The scientists believe that this also holds true in humans and that fathers, as well as mothers, should be in optimal health at the time of conception to increase the chance of a better future for their children and future generations.
It’s been known for quite some time that expectant mothers who are obese can cause serious health problems in their children, but now we know that obese fathers can also create major health issues for their offspring as well.
If all of the evidence of the extensive damage obesity does to one’s health has not convinced you to lose weight for your sake, perhaps thinking of what it might do to those that will carry your name and legacy will.
Achieving a healthy weight is possible: There are no excuses
For those that think losing weight is impossible for whatever reason, perhaps you’ve been obese or overweight your entire life, have more than 100 pounds to lose, or you believe there is nothing that can be done because it’s hereditary. Keep in mind that there are countless others who have bucked the odds and achieved their goal of reaching a healthy weight.
Some of those people overcame remarkable challenges to do so. If you have any doubts, visit SparkPeople.com and search the success stories.
One, particularly inspirational story is that of Brett Day, who was able to lose nearly 140 pounds – all while suffering from intense chronic pain.
Day had two discs in his lower back completely destroyed in a work accident and underwent major surgery. Following the surgery he developed a condition known as RSD or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a rare form of nerve damage.
Due to the pain, he had difficulty moving and ballooned to 334 pounds. He hated the way he looked, but being unable to play with his kids and enjoy family outings was a big motivator, in addition to potentially not being able to live to see his children or grandchildren grow up.
He made the decision to lose weight for himself and his family and never looked back.
His goal was accomplished by:
- Drinking lots of water instead of turning to unhealthy snacks.
- Slowly adding physical activity into his life – eventually working up to running a 5K race.
- Taking every opportunity to move.
- Eliminating all processed foods including junk food and fast food while concentrating on “one ingredient” items.
Today, Brett is attending college with a goal of becoming a personal trainer. He also hopes to run a half-marathon before the end of the year.
There are really no excuses stopping you from achieving a healthy weight and optimal health. Don’t your kids deserve it?
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://www.fasebj.org/content/early/2013/07/10/fj.12-
http://www.sparkpeople.com/blog/blog.asp?post=success_story_from_miserable_to_a_full_happy_life
