Tests of umbilical cord blood could help predict whether a baby will develop obesity, according to research. The expression of certain genes in umbilical cord blood is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. This suggests that by analyzing cord blood, doctors could potentially predict whether a newborn will develop obesity and intervene sooner.
Environmental factors such as pollution, diet, and exercise can affect gene activity through chemical tags called epigenetic marks. These marks can switch genes on or off, increasing the chances of developing various health conditions, including obesity.
