By Hope Nimurungi

“We are naturally fat in my family... I have never been small since childhood.” You probably have heard such remarks.
As a dietitian I hear them quite a lot, especially from people who are trying to lose weight. I have noticed that such people find it hard to cut weight because they are convinced  their weight is genetic. However, not all obesity is hereditary.

Genetics overrated
Genetics are highly overrated when it comes to chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
People in the same family share not only DNA, but also different habits. We learn how to talk, pray, bathe, dress, etc, from our families. Let us not forget that as family, we also cook around the same fireplace and consequently eat the same food. Among other factors, children also learn by copying what their parents or siblings do. That is how they learn what, when and how to eat.
For example, if we never saw our parents cook, we would probably be eating our food raw. The fact, therefore, that people in the same family can all be obese is not shocking because they sit around the same table or mat for dinner, and eat the same food for years. If they have watched their father eat 10 pieces of meat, children will think it is cool to eat big portions because after all, they look up to their parents. That is exactly what they will do when they are older. So if their father became obese, they will probably end up the same — and, that is not because of DNA, but habits.
 Other habits that could run in the family are lack of exercise, watching too much TV, snacking and bad cooking methods, for instance frying food.
If a child grows up eating porridge and chapatti for breakfast, posho and beans for lunch, tea and bread for evening tea and matooke and groundnuts for supper, naturally he will think that it is okay to do without fruits and vegetables.
If his parents come back from work, take evening tea and watch TV over popcorn and retire to bed, it is okay to do without exercise. If the beans, rice and chapatti are fried, then frying is the way to go. The children in this home might end up obese, which some parents perceive as healthy.
 Childhood obesity is a predisposing factor to adult obesity-related chronic illnesses including hypertension, organ failure and heart diseases.
As children grow up and get married, they eventually pass on the habits they inherited from their parents on to their children, and the cycle continues.
When a member of such a family goes to the doctor and is asked about her weight, she is likely to say it is genetic because her parents are equally over-weight.
We are always in a hurry to blame genes, but in certain circumstances, weight would not be a problem if we learnt better habits from our parents. We, therefore, need to be mindful of habits we cultivate in our children.
This starts with your food choices. Before you eat or feed your family on anything, first establish whether or not you would like for your children to make it a habit. We owe it to them to teach them the best habits that promote their health. This way, we shall protect our families from inheriting habits which will inevitably come along with ‘genetic’ chronic illnesses that we so much want to avoid.

Habits we can pass on
Regular nutrient-rich breakfast.

Eat sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables (two cups of each)

Encourage small portions of food at a time. However, one can have another helping if not satisfied

Drink plenty of water daily Encourage physical activity during free time instead of Tv.

Use different cooking methods, including steaming, poaching and grill ing instead of frying all the foods

Explain your choices. Let your children know the value of the food they are eating so they do not just eat anything.

Like Robin Sharma says: “The best way to inspire your children to develop into the kind of adults you dream of them becoming is to become the kind of adult you want them to be.”
 
The writer is a dietitian at AAR