Overweight Mum can lead to overweight baby
New research led by Professor Neena Modi at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, using MRI scans to investigate the link between obesity in children and their mothers, has found that being obese or overweight during pregnancy can lead to potentially harmful fat levels in the womb.
by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, 26th September 2011
One hundred and five babies took part in the study, 54 males and 51 females. Of those infants, 31 had more fat around their abdomen than was normal. Having a higher than normal amount of fat around the abdomen can lead to health problems in later life, such as poor blood sugar control, which leads to diabetes.
Research findings
The study found that every unit increase in weight in the mother led to a corresponding increase in the infant. The researchers concluded that:
“Maternal overweight and obesity are associated with adverse offspring outcome in later life. The causal biological effectors are uncertain”.
They added:
“These effects may be the initiating determinants of a life-long trajectory leading to adverse metabolic health.
Help for Mums
For more information, see Mindful Mum nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed’s advice in these previous articles:
Source: Pediatric Research, The Influence of Maternal Body Mass Index on Infant Adiposity and Hepatic Lipid Content, 26 September 2011
Further Information: The Telegraph, Overweight mothers ‘give birth to fat babies ‘, study finds, 26 September 2011
Photography: Liz @Flickr
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