In a study that followed more than 2,200 obese women during pregnancy, scientists found that some simple interventions can help prevent high birth weights in newborns. This is important because previous studies have shown that infants with a high birth weight have a greater risk of becoming obese as children or adults.
Professor Jodie Dodd summarizes the results: "Infants born to women who received lifestyle advice were 18% less likely to have a high birth weight compared to infants born to women who received standard care. " As obesity in children as well as in adults is becoming one of the largest health problems, reducing high infant birth weights is one good strategy to tackle obesity.
Date: October 6, 2014
Source: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (LMU)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141006113922.htm
