We are What Our Father ate

London: Like father, like children. Yes, you're what your father eats, says a new study.

An international team has found that a father's diet while growing up can affect the future health of his offspring -- in fact, paternal diet influences lipid metabolising genes of his children, the 'Cell' journal reported.

In their study, researchers have discovered that a father's lifestyle can be passed down to his children because it "reprogrammes" his genes.

The study has shown the hereditary effects of a process called "epigenetics" which is how the environment and lifestyle can permanently alter people's genes as they grow up. These altered genes can then be passed on to children.

Dr Oliver Rando of University of Massachusetts Medical School, who led the team, said his research could help identify individuals at high risk of illness such as heart disease and diabetes.