A new study in mice indicates that a diet too high in fat programs several generations of mice to be at higher risk of diabetes even if they do not eat a high fat diet. This study is particularly alarming, since many women are entering pregnancy overweight and eat poorly during pregnancy (high fat and high sugar junk food diets). There are already a number of studies showing that the offspring of such mothers are prone to obesity.

This new study is very sobering because it looks at the issue of fetal programming. True genetic changes take many thousands of years. However, fetal programming of the evolving nervous system of the child in the womb throws various gene switches into the “on” position even if they should not be. If the child is a girl, then all the eggs that will become her future children are also subjected to the same fetal programming – extending both good health or bad health for several generations.

The food choices of a mother during pregnancy have a profound affect on several generations. If the mother chooses a high fat junk food diet then she is not only more at risk for pregnancy complications and diabetes – but several generations of her offspring will also be at risk for diabetes even if they eat well. Parenting is a huge responsibility that certainly has healthy pregnancy as a key to getting everything started on the right foot.