• A review published in Current Obesity Reports found that fathers' health before conception may influence childhood obesity risk.

• Researchers identified genetic, epigenetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that may affect a child's long-term metabolic health.

• The authors called for greater paternal involvement in obesity prevention, preconception care, and family health programs.

A review published in Current Obesity Reports suggests that fathers' health before conception may influence a child's future obesity risk. Researchers found that paternal obesity, diet, physical activity, and mental health may affect long-term metabolic health through biological, behavioral, and environmental pathways that begin before conception and extend into early childhood.

The phrase "dad bod" is often used to describe the weight gain some men experience after becoming fathers. However, the review suggests that paternal health before conception may have implications that extend beyond fathers themselves, potentially influencing children's long-term obesity risk.

The review highlighted growing evidence that fathers play an important role in shaping children's long-term health alongside the well-established influence of maternal health.

"We found that fathers' health is an important contributor to children's health through biological, behavioral and environmental pathways," said corresponding author Matthew Landry, assistant professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine.¹

"Obesity is not simply the result of individual choices," Landry said. "This work highlights that obesity risk is 40 to 70 percent heritable and can be passed across generations through complex biological and environmental influences."¹

Researchers noted that childhood obesity remains a growing global health concern. Current projections estimate that approximately 250 million children worldwide could be living with obesity by 2030, highlighting the importance of identifying risk factors that begin even before conception.¹

The review also cited studies showing that children whose fathers have overweight or obesity are more likely to develop excess weight themselves, even after accounting for maternal weight status.

The review outlined several factors that may help explain how paternal obesity influences child health.

According to the authors, obesity can disrupt hormone balance, increase inflammation, and reduce sperm quality. Men with obesity often have lower sperm concentration, reduced motility, and higher rates of sperm DNA fragmentation.¹

The review explained that excess body fat may alter the hormonal environment needed for healthy sperm production. These changes can affect sperm development and may contribute to biological pathways linked to obesity risk in future offspring.¹

The authors also highlighted epigenetic changes, which can affect how genes function without altering the DNA itself. These changes may influence appetite regulation and metabolism during early development. Animal studies have linked paternal high-fat diets to increased body fat and poorer blood sugar regulation in offspring.¹

The review also noted that some of these effects may be reversible. Previous studies suggest that weight loss and healthier lifestyle habits can improve sperm quality and modify obesity-related epigenetic markers.

The review also noted that interventions such as sustained lifestyle modification, medical weight-loss treatments, and bariatric surgery have been associated with improvements in sperm health and metabolic markers, suggesting that some obesity-related risks may be reduced before conception.¹

Beyond diet and physical activity, the authors highlighted broader environmental and socioeconomic factors that may influence obesity risk across generations. Household income, food security, neighborhood conditions, workplace policies, and paternal mental health can shape family routines and exposures that affect both parenting behaviors and children's long-term health outcomes.¹

Beyond biological factors, fathers can shape children's eating patterns, physical activity levels, and other health behaviors through everyday habits and parenting practices. The review found that greater paternal involvement was associated with healthier diets and a lower risk of obesity in children.¹

Researchers also reported that many men experience weight gain, reduced physical activity, sleep disruption, and higher stress levels during the transition to fatherhood. These changes may affect household routines and influence the lifestyle habits children adopt as they grow.¹

Also see: Father’s Mental Health Can Impact Children for Years

The review noted that obesity prevention efforts have historically focused on maternal health while giving less attention to paternal influences. The authors recommended involving fathers in preconception counseling, prenatal care, and childhood obesity prevention programs.¹

The researchers also suggested that supportive workplace policies, including greater flexibility and parental leave opportunities, could help fathers participate more actively in family health practices and obesity-prevention efforts.¹

According to the researchers, father-inclusive healthcare services, supportive workplace policies, and greater paternal involvement during pregnancy and early childhood may help promote healthier family environments. The authors concluded that recognizing both maternal and paternal factors could strengthen long-term strategies aimed at reducing childhood obesity across generations.¹

The authors emphasized that paternal health should be viewed as a modifiable factor, suggesting that improvements made before conception may help support healthier outcomes for future children.¹

The findings add to growing evidence that childhood obesity prevention may benefit from addressing the health and lifestyle habits of both parents, beginning before conception.

References:

1.Landry, Matthew J., and John James Parker. “The Role of Fathers in the Intergenerational Transmission of Obesity.” Current Obesity Reports (2026). Published May 26, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-026-00720-9.

(Rh/TP/MSM)