We've all heard the good news about polyunsaturated fats and their healthful qualities. Whether it is Omega-3 fatty acids or its lesser-known counterpart, Omega-6 fatty acids, the range of health benefits include the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Now, researchers believe that having an imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, in conjunction with an unhealthy diet, may actually predispose your children to obesity, in essence passing the condition on to the next generation.

These findings, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, are the result of a study that looked at how consuming too much Omega-6 and too little Omega-3 can actually lead to having offspring that are overweight in animal models. The experiments in questions were designed to represent the current shift in eating that is being seen in humans.

Previous research has found a link between an imbalance between the two fatty acids and heart disease, but this is the first time that a trans-generational link to obesity has been suggested. While both fatty acids are important to good health, nutritional experts are beginning to gain a better understanding of how an imbalance between the two can have adverse health consequences.

This is particularly significant in light of the fact that the Western diet is characterized by an increasing shift away from Omega-3s and toward Omega-6s. In fact, over the last 40 years, the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 has gone from 5 to 1 to as much as 40 to 1 in this country. The European ratio is reportedly at 15 to 1.

Consequently, the composition of fatty acids in a mother's breast milk has changed, accordingly, with some women having a ratio of anywhere between 6 to 1 to as much as 18 to 1. What this means is that through their diets, mothers may be exposing their children to these unhealthy ratios and by extension, potentially predisposing them to obesity.

There is a great deal of debate over what the key factor that contributes to obesity actually is. Some experts believe it is the percentage of fat in the diet, while others argue that it is the total number of calories being consumed.

Though the current findings add to the ongoing debate, the data may lend some insight into the phenomenon of obesity persisting within a family. While being overweight does not involve heredity, it may not be solely the result of environment, either. Experts believe that the situation is "probably epigenetic," meaning that it involves a complex interaction where genes are translated into chemical activity.

Until further insight is obtained, the disagreement over fat and calories will continue. One thing you can be sure of, however, is that eating excessive amounts of food in conjunction with a sedentary lifestyle can be a significant contributor to obesity. With this in mind, it is a good idea eat a healthy diet in moderation and remain active.