How Much Does Your Parents' Weight Affect Yours?

Is obesity passed on from parent to child? Research shows that having overweight parents can dramatically increase your risk of becoming overweight. But are you doomed by your genes? Not exactly.

While it’s true that the children of overweight parents have an 80% chance of becoming overweight themselves, it’s widely believed that genetic predisposition has a relatively small role in that risk factor. More likely to cause obesity to move from one generation to the next are behavioral and environmental factors.

Take a look at the way you eat. For most people, the meals they prepare in their home are similar to the meals that were prepared for them as children. Likewise, the foods they keep in their kitchen probably mirror the foods that were kept in the kitchens of their childhood homes. To reduce your risk of becoming overweight and help your children overcome any genetic predisposition to obesity, replace processed junk food with healthy snacks. Stock your kitchen with whole foods that include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains. Having healthy foods on hand will make it easier for everyone in the family to make healthy eating choices.

After analyzing your kitchen, take a closer look at how your family spends free time. Do you engage in physical activity like walks and bike rides, or do you spend the majority of your time together in front of TVs and computers? Children who see their parents living active lifestyles are more likely to pursue physically demanding activities on their own.

The bottom line is that genetics do play a small role in how easily you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight. However, environmental factors that include healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can almost always overcome any genetic influence on your waistline.