Circadian gene variants may flag child obesity risk, study says
University of Guelph researchers linked clock-gene differences to diet patterns in children ages 2 to 6, pointing to a possible early risk marker.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
3 min read
Circadian gene variants could offer an early clue about obesity risk in children, according to University of Guelph researchers who studied links between body-clock genes and diet in preschool-age children. The finding adds genetics tied to sleep and daily rhythms to research on how eating patterns form early in life.
The work, from the Guelph Family Health Study, was published in Nutrients. The University of Guelph said researchers examined sleep-related gene differences and found that some variants were associated with calorie intake from specific macronutrients.
How do circadian gene variants affect obesity risk in children?
The study frames circadian genetics as one contributor among several to eating behavior and childhood obesity risk. Zach Ribau, a Guelph Family Health Study bioinformatician and graduate of the university’s Master of Bioinformatics program, said the field remains at an early stage and the finding should be considered part of a complex picture.
Clock genes are a subset of circadian rhythm-related genes that coordinate cellular processes on roughly a 24-hour cycle. Researchers connect them to the body’s broader circadian rhythm, which helps shape when people sleep, eat and feel more energetic.
Dr. David Ma, a professor in the Department of Human Health Sciences at the University of Guelph, said the findings add to evidence connecting circadian genetics with dietary behavior. He said natural body rhythms may influence eating behavior and later chronic disease risk, and that sleep, physical activity and eating habits are learned early.
What did the Guelph study examine?
Researchers used dietary records from 168 children between ages 2 and 6 and analyzed eight clock genes linked in prior research to obesity, diabetes and dietary behaviors. The University of Guelph said earlier studies had explored related associations, but its researchers were the first to study the question in a pediatric cohort and that no prior studies had focused on children younger than 6.
Ribau said the project looked at a single point in time. He said further observational studies are in development and could test whether the associations hold as children and parents grow older.
The researchers said clock genes are being considered as possible markers of early disease risk. They also said the findings could eventually help inform personalized diet-based interventions, though the current work identifies associations rather than a treatment.
The Guelph Family Health Study is a long-term, multidisciplinary research initiative that examines family behaviors, nutrition, sleep and stress, among other factors. The project studies how those factors affect the long-term health of young children while offering home-based strategies aimed at healthier habits.
The paper, by Zachary J. Ribau and colleagues, is titled “Clock Gene Variants Are Associated with Energy and Macronutrient Intake in Early Childhood and Adulthood.” It was published in Nutrients in 2026.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.