Circadian gene variants offer new indicator of obesity risk in children
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New research from the Guelph Family Health Study (GFHS) has found that circadian rhythm-related genes could influence the risk of obesity in children, highlighting an important connection between sleep and eating behavior.
Prior research has explored these associations, but University of Guelph researchers are the first to study this in a pediatric cohort. No studies have been conducted in children younger than 6 years old.
"Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence linking circadian genetics to dietary behavior," says Dr. David Ma, professor in the Department of Human Health Sciences.
Natural human rhythms affect health early in life
While humans all have the same genes, each person has variations of those genes that explain characteristics such as hair and eye color. In this new study published in the journal Nutrients, researchers examined variations in genes associated with sleep and found that certain gene variations may increase caloric intake from specific macronutrients.
"Clock genes have garnered substantial interest as modulators of disease risk," Ma says. "These findings show that listening to the natural rhythms of our bodies is important because they can influence eating behavior and chronic disease risk later in life. This matters because healthy behaviors such as sleep, physical activity and eating behaviors are learned early in life."
Clock genes, a subset of circadian rhythm-related genes, work together inside a cell to control cellular processes. They operate on a 24-hour schedule, like the circadian rhythm in humans that informs when they sleep, eat or have the highest energy levels.
Researchers say clock genes are emerging as potential candidates for markers of early disease risk and could therefore inform personalized diet-based interventions.
"This research is in its infancy," says Zach Ribau, a GFHS bioinformatician and graduate of the Master of Bioinformatics program. "It is a complex picture. In no way would this be the only thing to consider, but it is a factor in obesity in children."
New research leads to new questions about biology
Examining this makes researchers question what is known about biology and makes the circadian rhythm an exciting new concept to study, Ribau adds.
Researchers used data from the dietary records of 168 children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, and eight clock genes linked to obesity, diabetes and dietary behaviors.
These early stages of development are when early dietary habits can contribute to later disease risk, Ribau says.
"In this paper, we looked at just one point in time," Ribau says. "Further observational studies are in development, and more granular hypotheses could reveal more. As the children and parents grow older, do the associations here hold up?"
This kind of translational research, converting scientific discoveries into practical interventions, is the foundation of what the Guelph Family Health Study aims to do.
The multidisciplinary, long-term research initiative investigates family behaviors, nutrition, sleep and stress, among other things. It looks at how these affect the long-term health of young children while proactively offering home-based strategies for healthy habits.
"There is so much we can do," Ribau says. "Not just in terms of circadian genes, but many other interesting hypotheses to test and answers to find at GFHS."
Publication details
Zachary J. Ribau et al, Clock Gene Variants Are Associated with Energy and Macronutrient Intake in Early Childhood and Adulthood, Nutrients (2026). DOI: 10.3390/nu18121906
Journal information: Nutrients
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PediatricsChildren's healthClinical geneticsWeight managementSleep & RecoveryNutrition & Healthy eatingHealthy living Provided by University of Guelph Who's behind this story?
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