<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" DNA changes that occur in the womb may influence a baby&amp;#039;s chances of being overweight or obese in later life, scientists say. Researchers at the Universities of Newcastle and Bristol looked at marks or &amp;#039;epigenetic patterns&amp;#039; that occur on genes and are thought to be affected by environmental factors such as diet, stress or pollution. They found that babies that went on to be overweight tended to have different marks at birth than those that had a healthy weight in the future. The study looked at the umbilical cord blood of 178 babies and is published in the journal PLoS One. Lead researcher Dr Caroline Relton, senior lecturer in epigenetic epidemiology at Newcastle University, explained: &amp;#039;We were looking at the epigenetic patterns, the regulatory marks on genes. &amp;#039;In this research we found a link between those found at birth and differences in body composition in children when they were nine.&amp;#039; Dr Relton concluded that our DNA may be marked while still in the womb, and that these marks may influence our future body composition. According to the latest figures from the NHS Information Centre, around three in ten boys and girls, aged two to 15, were classified as overweight or obese in 2010. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a22197/changes-in-the-womb-may-contribute-to-future-obesity/>