Were you obese when you became a father? If yes, then check out for diabetes in your children. In other words, maintaining a healthy body weight will help prevent diabetes in the offspring.

    It is a known fact that obese mothers increase their offspring's chances of getting diabetes in future. New research says that father's weight during the time of conception also increases his child's diabetes risk.

    For this study, scientists from the University of New South Wales in Australia fed male rats a high fat, weight gaining diet in order to induce obesity. Those rats then mated with female rodents that were of normal weight. The resultant offspring had a low tolerance for glucose and insulin once they became young adults.

    This research shows that overweight fathers may actually program epigenetic changes in their unborn children. This process alters a gene's function. The scientists indicated that these changes could occur in the sperm as a result of a high-fat diet.

    In conclusion, leading a healthier lifestyle could reduce a child's risk for developing diabetes and associated potential problems.