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Obesity is defined as having a BMI (mass body index) of 25 or above. Obesity often leads to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure. Many people believe it to be simply a disease caused by poor diet or lifestyle, and while these factors definitely contribute, recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics may offer insight into the development of obesity.

As most already know, genetics play a huge role in the way we develop, and it is assumed that our genes are the only heritable factors we pass down to our children. Epigenetics deals with the study of gene-altering proteins and molecules that are passed down along with the DNA itself attached to the chromosomes. Throughout people's lives, environmental factors cause some genes to be altered by these epigenetic markers. These molecules can turn off, activate, and amplify genes, which are all effects of epigenetics that cannot be fully explained through just the study of genetics. When these people have children, the children inherit these molecules attached to the parents' DNA, being born with certain genes altered due to their parents' experiences. Our genes, which we used to think of as static, are now being shown to be highly dynamic. This implies that children are inheriting genes that show remnants of what their parents experienced.

During pregnancy, the mother's environment could cause epigenetic changes. The genome of the fetus is highly susceptible to these changes during this period. Fetuses are not just at risk of damage from toxins in the mother like alcohol, but the literal code that determines who they are and how they develop can be compromised based on seemingly harmless experiences the mother has. There are serious long-term effects because their genetics are involved, and one of those effects may be the higher risk of the development of obesity. This study looks to find a correlation between maternal hunger levels during pregnancy and obesity in the child that is born.

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