2026-08-02 from ctvnews.ca
“Clock genes” may influence a child’s risk of developing obesity and provide an opportunity to adjust diets early in life to prevent the disease, a new study suggests.
According to researchers from the University of Guelph’s “Guelph Family Health Study” (GFHS), clock genes are a subset of circadian rhythm-related genes that control what occurs inside a cell and operate on a 24-hour schedule. In their study published in the Nutrients journal in June, they discovered that certain gene variations linked with sleep may boost the number of calories consumed.
The researchers say previous studies have found links between circadian genetics and dietary behaviour, but this is the first one exploring the connection between clock genes and children younger than six years old.
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