January 07, 2026

Early Exposure to Fatty Food Smells May Rewire Your Child's Metabolism for Life

7 minutes

An animal study found that the smell of fatty foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding, even without eating them, can alter a child's brain development and make them more prone to obesity later in life
Mice exposed to bacon-scented diets in the womb and through milk developed insulin resistance and gained more weight in adulthood, despite eating the same healthy diets as control mice
The scent exposure rewired appetite and reward pathways in the brain, particularly affecting dopamine and AgRP neurons responsible for hunger regulation
Researchers found 155 distinct odor molecules from fatty foods entering amniotic fluid and breast milk, directly shaping the offspring's sensory environment
You can reduce your child's future risk of weight gain by managing food smells in your home, reducing inflammation, avoiding processed seed oils, and retraining your sense of smell with natural scents

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14871,487 ratings

January 07, 2026

7 minutes

An animal study found that the smell of fatty foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding, even without eating them, can alter a child's brain development and make them more prone to obesity later in life
Mice exposed to bacon-scented diets in the womb and through milk developed insulin resistance and gained more weight in adulthood, despite eating the same healthy diets as control mice
The scent exposure rewired appetite and reward pathways in the brain, particularly affecting dopamine and AgRP neurons responsible for hunger regulation
Researchers found 155 distinct odor molecules from fatty foods entering amniotic fluid and breast milk, directly shaping the offspring's sensory environment
You can reduce your child's future risk of weight gain by managing food smells in your home, reducing inflammation, avoiding processed seed oils, and retraining your sense of smell with natural scents

...more