Fathers’ Diets Could Shape Their Baby’s Health Before Birth

The food men eat before becoming fathers could leave a lasting mark on their children, according to new research.

The findings come from a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, which examined 43 father-mother-newborn triads in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Researchers investigated whether a father’s consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with measures of newborn growth and body composition.

Ultra-processed foods include products such as processed meats, sugary drinks, packaged snacks, cookies and other industrially manufactured foods containing ingredients and additives not typically used in home cooking.

In the study, these foods accounted for an average of 30 percent of fathers’ calorie intake.