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Contrary to 鈥渂laming鈥� obese individuals for making poor food choices, Meaney and his team suggest that obesity lies at the interface of three factors: genetic predispositions, environmental stress and emotional well-being. These findings, published in the journal, Appetite, shed light on why some children may be predisposed to obesity, and could mark a critical step towards prevention and treatment.

鈥淚n broad terms, we are finding that obesity is a product of genetics, early development and circumstance鈥�, says Meaney, who is also Associate Director of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre.

The work is part of the MAVAN (Maternal Adversity Vulnerability & Neurodevelopment) project, headed by Meaney and H茅l猫ne Gaudreau, Project Coordinator. Their team studied pregnant women, some of whom suffered from depression or lived in poverty, and followed their children from birth until the age of ten.

For the study, researchers tested 150 four-year old MAVAN children by administering a snack test meal. The children were faced with healthy and non-healthy food choices. Mothers also completed a questionnaire to address their child鈥檚 normal food consumption and preferences. 鈥淲e found that a variation in a gene that regulates the activity of dopamine, a major neurotransmitter that regulates the individual鈥檚 response to tasty food, predicted the amount of 鈥榗omfort鈥� foods -- highly palatable foods such as ice cream, candy or calorie-laden snacks -- selected and eaten by the children鈥�, said Dr. Silveira. 鈥淭his effect was especially important for girls who we found carried the genetic allele that decreases dopamine function.鈥澛�

鈥淢ost importantly, the amount of comfort food eaten during the snack test in the four- year-olds predicted the body weight of the girls at six years of age,鈥� says Meaney, 鈥淥ur research indicates that genetics and emotional well-being combine to drive consumption of foods that promote obesity. The next step is to identify vulnerable children, as there may be ways for prevention and counseling in early obesity stages鈥�.

Link to the study: