A new study appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that the poor health and lifestyle of our ancestors is responsible for the overweight/obesity epidemic that has the society in its grip . In a study of men who chewed betel nut, it was found that they passed the habit to their sons and grandsons.

Barbara Boucher, of the University of London, and colleagues in Taiwan say that men who chewed betel nuts had children who were prone to develop 'metabolic syndrome', suffering obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. This was true even when they did not chew betel nuts.

Prof Marcus Pembrey, of University College, London said that earlier studies had shown that in mice even a few days of betel chewing conferred diabetes and obesity on their children. 'We have to think of previous generations when it comes to the obesity epidemic,' Prof Pembrey told the Cheltenham Science Festival. 'Dr Boucher has found that betel nut chewing of the father leads to earlier onset of the metabolic syndrome in the offspring. What is so exciting is that it looks as if we are getting a coherent picture.'