Dads, you want to be healthy and active so you can run around with your children, set a good example, and not get worn out.
But did you know what you do before starting a family could actually impact their health?
According to a the study “Paternal Exercise Improves Glucose Metabolism in Adult Offspring” published in the journal Diabetes, fathers who exercise before conception, might be passing along better genes. Research shows that a dad's exercise habits could have an impact on the child's DNA.
During the study, researchers split male mice into four groups: two of them were fed high fat diets, and the two others received normal diets. Within those groups, some were sedentary, and some were free to exercise.
So what was the result? Both sets of mice that exercised, no matter their diet, had healthier offspring.
"What was really interesting to us is that we saw the effects of the paternal exercise in both the male and female offspring," said one of the study's authors, Kristin Stanford. "And we saw that it really improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and decrease fat mass in the female offspring in particular, really throughout their lifespan."
In short, you don't need to join a gym or talk about your crossfit routine on a daily basis before starting a family. Becoming more active at least one month before conception can make a difference.
