Low birth weight and obesity later in life

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Providing further understanding of the link between low birth weights and obesity during the later part of life, scientists found nutritionally deprived newborns are "programmed" to eat more because they develop less neurons in the region of the brain that controls food intake, as per an article published recently in the journal, Brain Research
The study by a team of scientists at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) suggests that overeating is programmed at the level of stem cells before birth when the mother has poor or inadequate nutrition.

Using an animal model, the scientists found less division and differentiation of the neural stem cells of a newborn with low birth weight as in comparison to normal birth weight. Prior studies have observed a small size at birth followed by accelerated "catch-up" growth is linked to an increased risk of adult obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.

"This study demonstrates the importance of maternal nutrition and health in reducing obesity," said Dr. Mina Desai, an LA BioMed principal investigator and corresponding author of the newly released study. "Obesity and its related diseases are the leading cause of death in our society, yet we have few effective strategies for prevention or therapy. These studies suggest maternal nutrition could play a critical role in preventing obesity and related disease".

In addition to obesity, the findings of altered brain (neural stem cells) development suggest that fetal growth restriction appears to be linked to cognitive and/or behavioral alterations. Importantly, the study offers potential opportunities for prevention and therapy for obesity and other related disorders. In addition to Dr. Desai, LA BioMed researchers Tie Li and Michael G. Ross took part in the study.

More than 60% of American adults are overweight and more than 1 in 5 are obese. Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents, as well. About 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese.


Posted by: JoAnn    Source