Wrong Diet in Pregnancy Leads to Fat Children

Maternal diet decides a child's physique. Explaining this point, according to a new study, following a wrong diet with wrong fats in pregnancy can increase the risks of giving birth to fatter children.

The study published in the January issue of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found pregnant women who consumed a diet high in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) having fatter children. PUFAS are fats found in cooking oils and nuts. On the other hand, they found consuming a diet rich with n-3 PUFAs or omega-3 fatty acids reducing the risks of giving birth to fat children.Fish oils, squid oil, algal oil and plant oils (echium and flaxseed oil) are some sources rich with the omega 3 fatty acids. 

To analyze the link between maternal food habits and childhood obesity, a  team of researchers from University of Southampton included nearly 300 children, aged between four and six years. All the children involved in the study were originally part of the Southampton Women's Survey (SWS).  

Researchers measured fat and muscle mass of the children. Maternal PUFAs levels were determined through blood tests. They found pregnant women with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids giving birth to babies with low fat and strong muscles/bones. 

The findings are expected to put an end to the obesity problem haunting the young generation in the United States.

"Obesity is a rising problem in this country and there have been very few studies of mother's fatty acid levels during pregnancy and offspring fat mass," Dr Nicholas Harvey from the University of Southampton, who led the research, said in a news release.

"These results suggest that alterations to maternal diet during pregnancy to reduce n-6 PUFAs intake might have a beneficial effect on the body composition of the developing child."