Children of obese moms might have higher risk for early death

Babies born to extremely overweight mothers are more at risk for dying younger from cardiovascular-related problems, a new study suggests.

Research published in the British Medical Journal found that offspring of obese moms had a 35-percent increased chance of premature death, as well as a 29-percent increased risk for hospital admissions based on a cardiovascular event.

Maternal obesity rates rising

The findings highlight "the urgent need for strategies to prevent obesity in women of childbearing age and the need to assess the offspring of obese mothers for their cardiovascular risk," reported a statement on the study.

Maternal obesity rates are on the rise, the study authors noted – 64 percent of U.S. women in the reproductive age range are overweight and 35 percent are obese. Similar patterns are starting to emerge in Europe, too.


The study analyzed birth records dating back to 1950 identifying the BMIs of 28,540 women and relevant details about their pregnancies, such as a mother's age at delivery, social class and the infant's birth weight. Twenty-one percent of the mothers in the study were overweight and 4 percent were obese.

Unalterable changes?

Previous studies have suggested that being overweight in pregnancy can cause permanent patterns to emerge in a child's appetite control and energy metabolism later in life. Compounded with research published earlier this year that suggests a father's weight at the time of conception can affect his offspring's risk for serious health complications, would-be parents have a responsibility to become healthier before they conceive.

The authors call maternal obesity a "major public health concern," confirming that the children of this population are a high-risk group who should be monitored for cardiovascular risk at repeated intervals throughout childhood and young adulthood to prevent complications later in life.


"As one in five women in the U.K. is currently obese at antenatal booking, strategies to optimize weight before pregnancy are urgently required," the researchers concluded.

Source: British Medical Journal


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...