Children of Obese Mothers are 35 Percent More Likely to Die by Age 55

Children of obese mothers have 35 percent increased chances of premature deaths, a latest UK study reveals.

The study also stated that these children were 42 percent more likely to be admitted in hospital for heart related problems. Researchers analyzed the birth and death records from 1950 and 1976 of 28, 540 mothers and their 37, 709 children, aged between 34 and 61. They studied the body mass index (BMI) of the mothers during their first antenatal visit. The researchers also took into account their age at the time of delivery, number of past pregnancies, mother and father's social class and infant sex, birth weight and gestation at delivery.

Around 21 percent of mothers were found to be overweight and 4 percent were obese. The results showed that 6,551 children of the studied mothers died prematurely, that is around 55 years. Out of them, 294 had obese mothers.

"Obese people are at higher risk of heart disease, so it is very likely that the people in this study whose mothers were obese were fatter than those whose mothers were lean," Professor Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, of the University of Cambridge told BBC News.

According to the researchers, children of the obese mothers were at greater risk of adverse effects in later stage of life. They stressed the need for plans to prevent obesity among women during their childbearing age.

"This study emphasises the need for everyone, but in particular pregnant women, to try to eat healthily and be active," said Doireann Maddock, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the study

The Royal College of Midwives said women should consider getting pregnant at a normal weight.