SCIENTISTS in Hampshire have found that a child’s risk of obesity could be influenced by modifications to their DNA before they are born.

University of Southampton researchers discovered DNA methylation, which plays a key role in the development of the embryos, can be affected by a range of environmental factors such as parental health, diet and lifestyle.

Scientists analysed the levels of DNA methylation in umbilical cord tissue of babies born in the Southampton Women’s Survey.

They compared DNA methylation levels present at birth with the amount of fat tissue in the child at four and six years of age.

They found that lower DNA methylation at the CDKN2A gene, which regulates the production of fat cells, was associated with a greater risk of the child developing obesity in later life.

The results, published in EBio Medicine, were replicated in other groups of children and adults including the Singapore Gusto study, the Australian Raine study and the UK Bioclaims cohort.

Lead author Karen Lillycrop said: “Not only does it strengthen the body of evidence that shows a mother’s health during pregnancy can affect the future health of her child, but it could also allow us to more accurately predict the future risk of obesity. If we can do this, then preventative strategies can be developed in early life to prevent the development of obesity.”

Professor Keith Godfrey, from the Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and the National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and a member of the study team said: “The findings are now helping us to trial new nutritional interventions before and during pregnancy to reduce the baby’s risk on obesity in childhood and later life, and strengthen the view that effective prevention of childhood obesity has to begin before the baby is born.

“The new findings may also lead to innovative approaches to the treatment of established obesity in later life.”

The Southampton team is part of the EpiGen Global Consortium which also includes the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences; National University of Singapore; Auckland UniServices Limited and the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland.

In January the Echo reported that more than a third of all ten and 11-year-olds in Southampton are obese and in the rest of Hampshire the figure is not far behind.

According to Public Health England Hampshire primary school children consume more than 11g of sugar – or nearly three cubes – at breakfast alone.