Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
17 April 2014 14:19
Research shows that babies of women who do not gain enough weight are as likely to be obese as those whose mothers gain too much
Eating too much, or too little, during pregnancy can result in an overweight child, research suggests.
Scientists from the United States have found that even staying slim during pregnancy could result in obese children.
The study, which tracked the health of more than 4,000 pregnant women and their offspring over a number of years, even reveals the risk is higher for women who are a normal weight at the start of their pregnancy.
Some 20.4% of boys and girls born to women who put on more weight than advised in pregnancy were overweight or obese between the ages of two and five, similar to the total of 19.5% of children born to women who gained less than the recommended amount of weight.
Both instances were more than the 14.5% figure recorded among women who stuck to the weight guidelines.
A slim woman who ate too much in pregnancy was 80% more likely to have a fat child than one who ate the right amount, while one who ate too little was 63% more likely to have a child who was overweight or obese. This suggests that genes cannot be completely blamed for the effect.
The researchers from the Kaiser Permanante Division of Research in Oakland, California, concluded that gaining either too little or too much weight in pregnancy may permanently affect mechanisms that manage energy balance and metabolism in children.
In light of the findings, British experts claim it is imperative that women are given clear advice on how much weight to gain during pregnancy.
The NHS currently advises that weight gain in pregnancy varies greatly, with most women putting on between 22lb to 26lb.
But doctors in the United States offer guidance on how much women of different weights should gain. A woman who goes into pregnancy at a normal, healthy weight, for example, should put on 11lb to 20lb.
Pregnant holidaymakers can enjoy their time away thanks to the peace of mind that pregnancy travel insurance offers. This also protects against holiday cancellation if a little someone arrives earlier than expected.
14 August 2018
Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport last month faced queues of over two and a half hours at passport control, new figures have revealed.
[more...]
11 August 2018
Hundreds of Ryanair flights will not take off as planned on Friday due to pilot strikes in five countries.
10 August 2018
Fad diets that cut out carbs while increasing fat consumption could lead to an increased risk of diabetes, according to new research.
09 August 2018
HIV testing has become even more accessible after a self-testing kit was made available from a High Street retailer.
08 August 2018
Women patients are more likely to survive a heart attack if they are treated by a female doctor, a new US study has revealed.
07 August 2018
The head of British Airways has branded two-hour queues facing travellers at Heathrow's passport control as a "border farce."
04 August 2018
Simple factors such as gender and body mass can help doctors to personalise care for patients with type 2 diabetes and avoid harmful side effects, according to a study.
03 August 2018
Gatwick Express must no longer claim it runs "non-stop to Victoria station in half an hour" and "in just 30 minutes" unless it can achieve the time in most cases, a watchdog has ruled.
02 August 2018
A charity is calling for greater access to respite support after it emerged that 72% of Britain's 700,000 young carers feel lonely and isolated during the summer holidays.
01 August 2018
A plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.
31 July 2018
The head of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways, is 'optimistic' about a legal challenge to end crippling strikes.
27 July 2018
UK holidaymakers heading on staycations this summer could be losing out on millions of pounds worth of savings by booking train tickets at the last minute, a study has revealed.