The Journal of Physiology published a study which stated that maternal obesity affects the heart health and function of the fetus.

The study revealed that the heart is programmed by the nutrition it receives during the gestational period inside the mothers womb.

Gene expression modifications affect how carbohydrates and fat are metabolized inside the heart and additionally adjust the hearts dietary desire from sugar and in the direction of fat.

Researchers employed a mouse model that mimics human maternal physiology and placental nutrition transfer in obese women. The genetic makeup, proteins and mitochondria of the offspring of obese female mice were investigated using echocardiography and positron emission tomography (PET) scans both in utero, and after birth at 3, 6, 9, and 24 months.

A significant effect of sex was observed in the offsprings heart metabolism. The expression of 841 genes in female fetuses hearts and 764 in male fetuses hearts was altered, but only about 10% of genes were altered in both sexes. Poor heart function from birth was seen among male puppies born to obese mice, whereas females cardiac function deteriorated with age. Estrogen might be responsible for the differences in long-term cardiovascular health and function among the genders. Young girls are hence less prone to cardiovascular diseases but with age the levels of estrogen decline, thus enhancing the risk of heart diseases.

Experts stated that the study provides an insight into a mechanism that links maternal obesity with cardiometabolic disease in the future generation. It encourages health professionals to provide early-life therapy to avoid later-life cardiometabolic disorders and develop novel medications that target metabolism in the fetal heart.