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UK Wedding News

14/08/2013

Kids Born With Obese Mothers 'More Likely To Die Before 55'

New research has suggested that children born to obese mothers are three times more likely to die before they reach the age of 55, compared to children of 'normal weight' women.

The study, carried out by experts from universities in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, found that children of obese women have a 29% higher chance of being admitted to hospital for heart attacks, angina and strokes.

Previous studies suggested similar increased risks of heart problems for those children, but this new study shows that they are also more likely to die young.

One theory is that overweight in pregnancy may cause permanent changes in appetite control an energy metabolism for an unborn children, resulting in greater health problems later in life.

The progress of almost 38,000 babies born in Scotland between 1950 and 1976 were studied by the experts. The mothers' weight was also recorded, as was the death records for their children. It was discovered that children were 35% more likely to have suffered an early death by the age of 55 if their mum had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more during their pregnancy.

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People with a BMI of 18.5 to 25 are classed as being of normal weight, 25-30 is overweight and over 30 is obese.

Of the 28,540 mothers involved in the research, 21% were classified as overweight, while 4% were obese. Among the 37,709 children, there were 6,551 deaths from 'any cause', with the leading cause of death being heart disease (24% of deaths in men and 13% in women).

Cancer accounted for a quarter of deaths in men and two in five women.

Even when other factors were taken into account, such as the mother's age, and socio-economic status, the rates of ill-health and death held true.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the experts said the results were a major public health concern as around 20% of all women of childbearing age are obese today, while around a third are overweight.

Dr Sohinee Bhattacharya, of the University of Aberdeen, said: "We need to find out how to help young women and their children control their weight better so that chronic disease risk is not transmitted from generation to generation."

Professor Rebecca Reynolds, of the Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Research at the University of Edinburgh, added: "As obesity among pregnant women is rising, along with levels of obesity in the general population, our findings are of major public health concern."

(JP/CD)

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"New research has suggested that children born to obese mothers are three times more likely to die before they reach the age of 55, compared to children of 'normal weight' women."