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It’s a long-held belief that a newborn’s weight and health depend entirely on what the mother eats during pregnancy. However, a groundbreaking study by Brazilian scientists turns that assumption on its head: as it turns out, a father’s diet prior to conception directly shapes a newborn’s body composition and weight.

Researchers discovered that the more ultra-processed foods (junk food, sodas, chips, sugary cereals) a dad-to-be consumes, the heavier his baby is born. What’s more, these newborns show higher fat deposits specifically around the thighs and the suprailiac area (commonly known as "love handles").

While a chubby baby might look adorable at first glance, scientists warn that these physical markers could signal underlying health risks as the child grows into adulthood.

“So much attention has always been placed on maternal nutrition and health before, during, and after pregnancy, but the father’s diet is rarely spoken about. Our study proves it plays a massive role in a baby’s health,” explains Daniela Sartorelli, one of the study’s authors.

How Does Dad’s Junk Food Mess With Baby’s Genes?

Scientists believe that regularly eating ultra-processed foods triggers low-grade inflammation in a man’s body. This alters sperm composition and dictates which of the child’s genes are turned "on" or "off." “This process is known as epigenetics,” explains co-author Mariana Rinaldi Carvalho. “Gene activity can be activated or deactivated depending on the father’s eating habits.”

Specifically, researchers examined the IGF-II gene, which is inherited exclusively through the paternal line and regulates fetal growth.

A fascinating contrast emerged: if the father heavily consumed ultra-processed food, the baby was born heavier. However, if the mother consumed a similar junk-food diet during early pregnancy (before 16 weeks), the baby was born with a lower birth weight, shorter stature, and smaller head circumference—due to nutrient deficits in the mother’s diet.

The Hidden Risks of Birth Weight Extremes

Babies born with significant weight deviations on either end of the spectrum face a higher risk of motor-skill delays (making it harder to hit crawling and walking milestones on time).

Furthermore, as these children grow older, they face a heightened risk of developing chronic non-communicable conditions later in life:

• Cardiovascular diseases

• Type 2 diabetes

• Certain types of cancer

What Are Ultra-Processed Foods and How to Spot Them?

Ultra-processed foods are notoriously harmful to adults as well, elevating risks for depression, dementia, obesity, and premature death.

The key telltale sign of ultra-processed food: it isn't made from whole ingredients, but rather assembled in industrial labs from food extracts and chemicals. They are packed with preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colorings, flavor enhancers, and emulsifiers that aren't found in a standard home kitchen (such as vanillin instead of natural vanilla or synthetic stabilizers).

Everyday ultra-processed foods include:

• Sugary sodas and instant fruit drinks

• Candy, chocolate bars, and store-bought ice cream

• Packaged mass-produced bread, cupcake mixes, and margarine

• Processed breakfast cereals and granola bars

• Frozen pizzas, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, burgers, and pre-packaged meals

• Instant noodles

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