Will Your Child Develop Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a major problem in the United States.  It is marked by insulin resistance, inflammation, dyslipidemia, hypertension and a number of other variables.  Within the past 10 years, the prevalence has risen dramatically among adolescents.  Over 45% of adolescents have at least 1 risk factor for metabolic syndrome and with overweight and obesity on the rise, this number is likely rise.

A recent study in Diabetes Care found that hyperinsulinemia in pregnant women predicted an increase in overweight and metabolic syndrome in the offspring!  

Other researchers propose that changes in the nutritional environment of the pregnant mother may lead to "a long term re-setting of cellular energy homeostasis, most probably via epigenetic modification of genes involved in a number of key regulatory pathways."  In other words, the genes themselves may not change but mom may profoundly influence the expression of the child's genes.  This doesn't suggest that the health of the child is now predetermined.  But it does tell us that your child has now been, "dealt a bad hand."  Nat Rev Endocrinol 2009 Nov;5(11):604-10. Epub 2009 Sep 29.

"Eating for two" should take on a different light now.  The abuse of chocolate cake and twinkies will forever affect your child.