People who were conceived during “cold seasons” are likely to have less fat around their organs compared to those conceived during warmer times of the year, latest evidence has shown.
A new study from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has found that individuals born in April and May have lower activity in their brown adipose tissue – the type of fat that burns calories to produce heat.
According to the researchers, this leads to more fat accumulation around internal organs, a higher BMI and decreased energy expenditure.
People born in September, October and November are likely to be skinnier as they tend to have higher activity in their brown adipose tissue.
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This study highlights that atmosphere and weather have the ability to influence human physiology.
As part of the trial, the team of researchers examined the health outcomes of 683 people aged between three and 78.
Each participant was placed into a group, dependent on what time of the year they were conceived: either between October 17 and April 15 or April 16 and October 16.
The authors said: “The findings indicate that brown adipose tissue activity is ‘preprogrammed’ by exposure to cold temperatures before fertilisation.
“The driver for this may come mostly from the father’s exposure to colder temperatures, rather than the mother.”
Previous research has indicated that exposure to cold weather causes the sperm to trigger the development of an embryo that is better adapted to metabolism and cold temperatures.
Raffaele Teperino, from the German Research Center for Environmental Health, said: “Parental health during conception and gestation can affect offspring development and health.
“A study in humans now shows that adult individuals who were conceived during cold seasons exhibit greater brown adipose tissue activity, increased energy expenditure, lower body mass index and lower visceral fat accumulation.”
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Raffaele Teperino added: “The new findings emphasise once more the critical role of the preconception environment in shaping offspring metabolism and offer perspectives for understanding the co-existence of two global health challenges – obesity and warming.”
By 2050, the number of children and adults living with obesity in the UK will increase significantly, experts have said.
In the coming years, children as young as five will be at risk of becoming obese, researchers have suggested.
Health experts said: “The global picture represents a profound tragedy and a monumental societal failure.”
