Talk about generational trauma, women who’s grandfathers or great-grandfathers who began smoking before puberty have higher than expected body fat, researchers from University of Bristol published in journal Scientific Reports.
Prior research has shown that certain chemical exposure can have consequential effects on future generations.
Researchers analyzed participants in the Children of the 90s study of over 14,000 participants and reviewed questionnaires about their grandfathers and great-grandfathers. They found higher body fat in females of whom paternal grandfathers or great-grandfathers started smoking before the age of 11. However, they found no such correlations in male descendants.
“This research provides us with two important results. First, that before puberty, exposure of a boy to particular substances might have an effect on generations that follow him. Second, one of the reasons why children become overweight may be not so much to do with their current diet and exercise, rather than the lifestyle of their ancestors or the persistence of associated factors over the years…” stated lead author, Jean Golding.
Obviously, many other factors can contribute to how everyday chemical exposure can effect future generations. However, one thing is clear from this and prior studies, what we do today effects generations to come, whether it be our activities on the planet or what we put in our body. If you love your children and their children, you would put priority in combating pollution and waste, and place emphasis on taking care of your own health. Cannot wait for the devastating effects of plastic on future generations study because when we find out, it may be too late.
Not only is smoking not a masculine activity, people who do it are selfishly going around harming children and the environment.
J Golding et al. Human transgenerational observations of regular smoking before puberty on fat mass in grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Scientific Reports 2022. 12, 1139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04504-0
