A Brazilian study suggests that a father’s consumption of ultra-processed foods before conception may influence a newborn’s weight and fat storage patterns, highlighting the importance of paternal nutrition prior to pregnancy.
A father’s diet before conception may do more than shape his own health. It could also influence a newborn’s weight and where body fat is stored, according to a Brazilian study highlighted by ScienceAlert and carried out at the University of São Paulo.
Researchers examined 43 families in Brazil, enrolling pregnant women first and then inviting their partners to join. Parents were interviewed twice about everything they had eaten and drunk in the previous 24 hours, allowing the team to estimate how much of their energy came from ultra-processed foods such as processed meats, sweetened drinks and biscuits.
After the babies were born, the researchers measured their weight, length, body proportions and skinfold thickness. They found that fathers who consumed more ultra-processed food were more likely to have babies with higher birth weight, a greater weight-for-length measure and thicker skinfolds around the thighs and hips. The study did not find a rise in total body fat, but it did suggest that fat distribution may differ. Daniela Sartori, the lead nutrition epidemiologist, said the work shows paternal diet matters too, not just maternal nutrition.
The researchers stressed that the findings show association, not proof of cause. Even so, they argued the results add to growing evidence that a father’s health can affect a child’s development before birth, possibly through epigenetic changes carried in sperm. Mariana Carvalho, a nutrition researcher involved in the study, said earlier work suggests poor diets can alter biochemical activity in a gene linked to fetal growth, while highly processed diets may also create an inflammatory environment that affects sperm quality. The team said larger studies are needed to test whether these mechanisms explain the patterns seen in newborns.
That concern fits with wider evidence on ultra-processed food. Reviews from the US Department of Agriculture and other studies have linked higher intake of such foods to greater body fat and obesity risk in children, adolescents and adults, although the evidence is less certain in infants and very young children. Earlier experimental work has also suggested that fathers’ diets can influence offspring health through sperm-related pathways, reinforcing the view that pre-conception nutrition may matter for both parents.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
