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A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Stanford suggests that adopting a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can reverse a genetic marker associated with premature ageing in children with obesity. The study, published in the journal Pediatric Obesity, focused on telomeres, which act as protective molecular “caps” on chromosomes, guarding them against fraying and damage.
Telomeres naturally shorten with age, but conditions like obesity can accelerate this process. The six-month diet and exercise program implemented by the researchers demonstrated that children’s telomeres became longer during the weight management intervention. However, the telomeres shortened again in the year following the program’s conclusion.
The study involved 158 children aged 8 to 12 with obesity, defined by a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. The recommended behaviors during the intervention, including consuming fewer high-fat or high-sugar foods, reducing calorie intake, increasing physical activity, and limiting screen time, contributed to the observed effects on telomeres.
Professor Thomas Robinson, a key figure in the study, emphasized the significance of behavioral treatments in influencing the biological ageing process associated with childhood obesity. The findings also suggest that telomere length could serve as a valuable marker for measuring the benefits of healthy dietary changes, physical activity, and weight management, offering insights beyond traditional markers like BMI.
The study underscores the potential for behavior changes to impact biological ageing and provides a platform for understanding the biological links between obesity and associated conditions such as heart disease and diabetes in children. Lead author David Rehkopf expressed excitement about the study’s results, highlighting the ability to witness changes in this biological measure over a short period when children are given resources to adopt healthier lifestyles. The research opens avenues for exploring how to slow or reverse the processes linked to cardiovascular risks in obese children.
As scientists delve deeper into understanding the genetic and biological components influenced by lifestyle changes, the study contributes valuable insights into the intersection of behavior, genetics, and health outcomes, particularly in the context of childhood obesity.
