Fat Babies Become Fat Adults
Thursday, August 12th, 2010Cited: ABC News
The cutest thing on earth is a chubby little baby. It is difficult to pass up those precious rolls around her tiny feet and those credible chunky cheeks are so pinchable. However, researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston and Columbia University are now suggesting that plump newborns are more likely to become fat adults.
Clinicians analyzed all births in Michigan and New Jersey from 1989 to 2003, a period in which 513,000 women gave birth to more than one million babies. Researchers then used heath records to determine how much weight the mothers had gained throughout their three trimesters.
Expectant mothers typically do consume more calories than usual since they are eating for two. Many experts believe that overeating during pregnancy, however, can actually create an abnormal uterine environment for the fetus, one that could potentially change a baby’s brain permanently.
An unhealthy diet could also alter the baby’s pancreas, which controls metabolism, and change one’s fat tissue. A high birth weight has even been linked to certain types of cancer and asthma allergies.
“For an adult to gain an extra 10 pounds and then maybe lose it doesn’t cause permanent changes in that individual’s biology,” Ludwig said. “But, for a fetus to gain too much weight during key [moments] may permanently alter the brain circuits that affect appetite and metabolism, fat tissues or other parts of the body that have a permanent role in body weight regulation.”
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During a healthy pregnancy, a woman is likely to gain anywhere between 18 to 22 pounds. But, as an expectant mother’s waistline grows, so do the chances of having a big baby, or one weighing more than eight pounds and 12 ounces.
To prevent such problems, new mothers are advised to talk to their doctors about nutrition in order to best balance pregnancy cravings and the scale.
“These are the most important nine months of life from the standpoint of development,” said Dr. David Ludwig of Children’s Hospital Boston. “Our cells, tissues, even brain structures are being formed and fine-tuned so that having too high blood sugar and other abnormal metabolic influences can affect that infant not just at the moment but potentially throughout life.”
An example of this is if a woman gains 44 pounds during her pregnancy, over her original weight, she is one and a half times more likely to have a chubby baby. A woman that gains 52 pounds during her pregnancy, over her original weight, is twice as likely to have a fat baby.
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My Take: That weight that women gain is called baby fat and it is difficult to lose. However, I once knew a woman who actually lost weight while pregnant. I know it seems strange to be able to lose fat stomach while pregnant, but it can be done. And she did it by eating mainly salads and meet only once or twice a week. If I remember correctly, she lost almost 50 pounds while pregnant. Of course, she was overweight when she got pregnant too.
Everyone who has a baby wants to get rid of belly fat as soon as possible once they give birth. Many women use organic skin care lotions to help keep their skin pliable during pregnancy, but that doesn’t do much for the weight gain. In fact, there are many organic beauty products on the market that will help keep stretch marks to a minimum.
Many women however, do not worry about it. Instead, they put their time and energy into planning baby showers and designing baby shower invitations. And then dreaming about the day they start designing birthday party invitations for their newest addition to the family.
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