“Clock genes” may influence a child’s risk of developing obesity and provide an opportunity to adjust diets early in life to prevent the disease, a new study suggests. According to researchers from the University of Guelph’s “Guelph Family Health Study” (GFHS), clock genes are a subset of circadian rhythm-related genes that control what occurs inside a cell and operate on a 24-hour schedule. In their study published in the Nutrients journal in June, they discovered that certain gene variations linked with sleep may boost the number of calories consumed. “These findings show that listening to the natural rhythms of our bodies is important, which can influence eating behaviour and chronic disease risk later in life,” Dr. David Ma, a professor at the university’s department of human health sciences, said in a press release posted on Tuesday. “This matters because healthy behaviours such as sleep, physical activity and eating behaviours are learned early in life.” The researchers say previous studies have found links between circadian genetics and dietary behaviour, but this is the first one exploring the connection between clock genes and children younger than six years old. For the study, researchers examined eight clock genes tied to obesity, diabetes and dietary behaviours, as well as dietary records of 168 children between the ages of two and six years old. According to Zach Ribau, a GFHS bioinformatician, the risk of developing diseases can be influenced by children’s eating habits during the early stages of their development. “In this paper, we looked at just one point in time,” Ribau said in the press release. “As the children and parents grow older, do the associations here hold up?” Despite the findings, Ribau said the research is still in its “infancy” and more observational studies are being developed. “It is a complex picture,” he said in the press release. “In no way would this be the only thing to consider, but it is a factor for obesity in children.”
