Babies conceived in winter may be less prone to adult weight gain, Japanese study finds

ISTANBUL A Japanese research team led by Tohoku University has found that babies conceived during the winter months are less likely to gain excess weight as adults, suggesting a possible link between the season of conception and long-term metabolism. The findings, published Tuesday in the online edition of the journal Nature Metabolism, could offer new insights into the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to Japan’s Jiji Press. Researchers focused on brown adipose tissue, or brown fat, which plays a key role in burning energy and regulating body heat.

Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat activates in response to colder temperatures, prompting the body to burn stored fat for warmth. The study involved 356 healthy men aged 18 to 29, who were grouped according to the season in which they were conceived. The team discovered a noticeable correlation between winter conception and higher brown fat activity later in life -- potentially helping to reduce the risk of adult weight gain.



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