According to researchers who say the newborns may face the risk of getting heavier as they grow up as the baby fat may no longer be the picture of health for infants born to obese mothers. The previous research has shown that adults who are overweight or obese have a greater risk of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. The study was conducted by a team of researchers who investigated data of about 74,000 newborns and the report was also presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting and also showed that increased body mass in kids may also lead to severe health problems in the future.
Study’s Lead Investigator Felix Okah “Adult diseases like obesity may have their foundation during the fetal period, so efforts to safeguard the health of the fetus could translate to future adult health for these newborns”. Okah also said “The number of women considered obese before pregnancy rose to 22 per cent in 2005 from 13 per cent in 1990, he said. While other reports have found the number of adults who are considered obese may have leveled off over the past decade, the tide hasn’t turned for soon-to-be mothers”. He added “If newborns are imprinted from the beginning that their bodies are meant to have more body fat, “then we’re potentially laying the groundwork for future problems with obesity”.
Okah looked at data from the Kansas City Health department on 74,053 infants born full term form 1990 to 2005. Okah said “That difference may not be a problem in the immediate newborn period, but the future implication of obesity risk and the associated
Obesity-related problems are a concern”. He also added “If newborns are imprinted from the beginning that their bodies are meant to have more body fat, “then we’re potentially laying the groundwork for future problems with obesity”.
Submitted by Pawan Shukla on 2010, May 6 – 14:10, featured in Top News,SG
