Overweight mothers give birth fat babies

Childhood obesity originates in the mother’s womb, says a new study which used the latest technology to monitor fat levels in unborn babies.
 
These babies, part of the study at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, west London, were found to have a similar build-up of abdominal fat that adults in their 50s have.
 
The study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to investigate links between obesity in children and their mothers.
 
It reportedly found evidence that being overweight or obese in pregnancy could result in potentially harmful changes in a baby’s fat levels in the womb, The Telegraph reports. 
 
The study, led by Neena Modi, professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College London, found nearly a third of children had more fat than expected.
 
Of the 105 babies -- 54 boys and 51 girls -- a total of 31 babies had more adipose, or fat, tissue around their abdomen than normal.
 
Experts said the study was the first direct link that proved the weight of a mother-to-be was passed on to her child and showed that overweight mothers gave birth to fat babies.
 
“I was very surprised to be able to detect such a clear continuum of effect of maternal BMI (body mass index) on the baby,” said Modi.
 
“This is a very important finding indeed, opening the door to a new understanding of how a mother’s metabolism affects her baby.”