Share

Smoking in pregnancy leads to overweight kids

Children whose mothers were overweight and smoked during pregnancy are at increased risk of being overweight, a new study has found.

The researchers also found that a high birth weight and rapid weight gain during the first year of life increase the risk of children being overweight.

The authors of the report in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, reviewed 30 studies published between 1990 and 2011. The studies, which involved more than 200 000 people, tracked children's health from birth until at least the age of 2 years.

The analysis revealed several important and independent risk factors that increased children's risk of being overweight. By itself, smoking during pregnancy increased the risk by nearly 48%, but this may be because smoking is a good indicator of mothers' other social and lifestyle characteristics, Dr Stephen Weng, of the U.K. Center for Tobacco Control Studies at the University of Nottingham, and colleagues said.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk

The investigators also found that breast-feeding and late weaning helped to reduce the chances of children being overweight. For example, breast-feeding cut the risk by 15%, the study authors noted.

There was no link between mother's age, level of education, ethnicity or depression symptoms and children's risk of being overweight. Evidence was inconclusive for type of delivery, weight gain during pregnancy, weight loss after pregnancy and whether a child was a fussy eater, the authors added.

"Several risk factors for both overweight and obesity in childhood are identifiable during infancy," Weng and colleagues concluded in the report. "Future research needs to focus on whether it is clinically feasible for health care professionals to identify infants at greatest risk."

Although the study found an association between certain maternal and early childhood factors and a child's risk of being overweight, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Read more:
Smoking outside doesn't shield kids

More information

The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion explains how parents can keep their children at a healthy weight.


(Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.)

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE