I had a little trouble figuring out correct forum to place this topic so it goes here in "Rant and Raves" because it is a bit of a rave.

My MIL was an RN before retirement and likes to keep up on medical studies. She and I were talking about (WLS (VSG) last night and she said WLS (VSG) changes the DNA.

My first response was "what....?" and then " how is this possible?"

She explained that there was a medical study done in Iceland where they said WLS (VSG) changes the genetic coding in a person's DNA such that the genes responsible for a predisposition of obesity are no longer present in future generations (read: children).

Wow, that is powerful!

Effectively it means you can expect to have beautiful and athletic children if WLS (VSG) does the same for you. All the genetic precursors like ineffective BMR are effectively reprogrammed.

Now I am wondering if the results of this medical study also apply to alcohol, drugs and other addictive predispositions that are passed through DNA.

Wait!!!...They have fat people in Iceland??

Fat (obese) people are everywhere my friend. Just a fact and not a value judgement so don't flame me on that comment. Now this is a serious topic so give me a serious response Laura. Lol.

Does it work even if you already had kids??

Does it work even if you already had kids??

No.

Well **** now another thing for them to be pissed off at me with!

If they ever get fat it will be my fault!!

Although my 16 year is very fast to say she would never let herself look like me

Shared this with my husband who said we obviously need to work on procreating today... Thanks!!!

BTW: Any word on if only 1 of the parents has WLS??

Shared this with my husband who said we obviously need to work on procreating today... Thanks!!!

BTW: Any word on if only 1 of the parents has WLS??

I do not know the answer to that, but I would think standard gene splicing occurs from parent DNA strands. So even if you are a model of fitness and good appearance, the children will also get a certain percentage of the other DNA strand, affecting the aggregate DNA strand.

Makes sense

hmmm...I would like to see a copy of that study! I may sound a bit cynical...but I'm a bit cynical....

could this be the study she was referring to, or was it specific to VSG? This talks about someone's DNA changing with age (which of course makes sense)--but not sure if it would translate to the offspring of someone who has had VSG.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624174849.htm

I am fascinated, although I must say that when I first saw your post, I double-checked to make sure it wasn't dated April 1!

Here's another study, though no direct tie-in on this one either:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130124150808.htm

It is a real study, but was some think MIL saw on TV. For this reason, I am unable to share the actual medical study with you.

Interesting! I'm not doubting what your MIL said or what she heard--just possibly the media outlet's interpretation of the study. (I'm a medical writer/editor, and see studies misreported or overextrapolated in the mainstream media all of the time.)

Based on the study above, from Science, which is of course very credible...it looks like there are ongoing studies into whether (speaking in laymen's terms here) DNA mutations that occur with age or with traumatic events (think cancer or starvation in concentration camps) can be passed on to an offspring. It is controversial because there is a long-held belief that DNA "resets" in eggs and sperm before creating an embryo. So that looks like the focus of this particular research (the one study that I had found) in Iceland right now.

Sounds like many decades ahead just to prove/disprove the various theories before it would be applied to a specific medical procedure. Right now, it looks like the hypothesis is that only "bad" mutations could maybe be passed on to offspring...or at least that is what is being researched. Couldn't find anything on whether good changes could be passed on.

It's also not proven whether VSG or other WLS procedures might improve DNA in the way that traumatic events such as starvation or cancer might make the DNA of lesser "quality."

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but evidence-based medicine is really important to me, especially when it comes to medical decision-making. I love that so much evidence out there does support VSG and WLS.

I would love to see a copy of the study if you come across it! I really appreciate you sharing this, because I learned a lot about current genetics research that I didn't know.

Too bad my kids are grown and 2 out of 3 have kids of their own. Son is adopted so don't know his background on one of his bio dad!. We always told him we imported height as he is 6ft 4 " and his daughter is already taller than me at 12 which isn't hard. LOL! Would love to see the study too!

What about when a child inherits a trait from grandparents? Like, my son is a redhead but neither me or my husband is but my grandmother and MIL is. If obesity runs in the family, your child could still be predisposed to being overweight, yeah?