C-Section Babies More Likely to be Obese in Early Childhood

Babies born through cesarean section have more chances of becoming obese later on, stated a Reutres Health report.

Researchers collected data from more than 10,200 children born between 1991 and 1992 in Avon, U.K. The children and their parents were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The study found that 83 percent of babies born through C-section were overweight and obese by age 11.

"With C-sections, there may be long-term consequences to children that we don't know about. The obesity risk for kids is not great and shouldn't come into play for women who need a C-section for medical reasons," said Dr. Jan Blustein, leader of the new study at the New York University School of Medicine. Dr Blustein said that pregnant women should be aware of the consequences of C-section deliveries.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show that C-sections accounted for almost 1 in 3 births in 2010, up from 1 in 5 in 1996.

However, the researcher also considered the influence of external factors such as diet habits of the baby and family history of obesity.

Also according the researchers, normal delivery babies are exposed to bacteria, which is a factor in avoiding obesity later. C-section children are not exposed to such bacteria.

"Generally, the early colonization and establishment of the intestine with bacteria seems very important. Yet, much more work is needed before we can explain the mechanisms of the early bacterial colonization," Teresa Ajslev from the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Frederiksberg, Denmark,  told Reuters Health.

The researchers said that they will study further into the matter. "This certainly is not the last word," Blustein said.