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Overweight pregnant fat mothers harm her child
Expectant mothers should pay particular attention to what is on the menu during pregnancy. They can significantly influence the health of their offspring with their diet. If pregnant women are too fat, this can have long-term consequences for the children.
Negative influences last into adulthood
Various scientific studies have shown that the lifestyle of the parents has a significant impact on the health of their offspring. For example, scientists at the University Hospital Ulm found out that the weight of the mother shapes the fetus. Therefore, children of overweight mothers often have a higher blood sugar level already at school. Jan Däbritz, nutrition specialist and vice-director of the Children and Adolescent Clinic of the University of Rostock, also knows that women have a significant influence on the health of their children during their pregnancy and lactation. As the expert explained in a message from the dpa news agency, this does not just apply to the health of the young at the time of growth. Rather, negative influences could last far into later adulthood.
Expectant mothers can significantly influence the health of their offspring with their diet during pregnancy. (Image: magdal3na / fotolia.com) Overweight mothers have overweight children
"The pregnant woman is in the duty: studies prove that in the assessment that obese mothers also have overweight children, is quite a bit off," said Däbritz. As a result, it may come in later adulthood, inter alia, to vascular diseases such as hypertension or infarction and diabetes. The background is the so-called metabolic programming, which says that ingredients of food can lead to genetic changes. While these are not inherited, they can influence the reading of genes. According to the nutritionist, this in turn has an impact on the production of proteins or enzymes. Däbritz emphasized that not a single food could be described as "bad". According to him, it is more about the generally unhealthy eating habits and the much too high energy supply, which is taken up with the food.
"Health policy problem with considerable extent"
According to the agency report, this assessment is also shared by the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Thus, excessive obesity during pregnancy also increases the risk of complications at birth for mother and child. "Against the background that every third to fourth woman in Germany of childbearing age is overweight, it is potentially a public health problem with considerable extent," said DGE spokeswoman Antje Gahl.
Pregnant women do not have to eat for two
"Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy is therefore to be avoided in the interests of maternal and child health. Pregnant women do not have to eat "for two", according to an earlier statement from the DGE. Christian Albring, president of the Association of Gynecologists, recently said that expectant mothers who are hungry like two people do not have to eat double portions. So much more energy is not needed during pregnancy.
Importance of nutrition for expectant mothers
As Gahl explained, prevention starts in the womb. According to Däbritz it is the duty of gynecologists to inform pregnant women about the importance of nutrition. To prevent impaired brain development of the unborn child, for example, include fish with its important fatty acids on the diet. But only if the fish is really well cooked. According to recent research, pregnant women should not fish more than three times a week. For example, Greek researchers from the University of Crete in the journal JAMA Pediatrics report that consuming too much fish causes children to become more likely to become overweight or develop obesity later on. (Ad)