Children of obese mothers 'have higher heart risk'

Children born to obese and overweight
mothers are more likely to die early of
heart disease, a study has found.
Scottish research showed a 35% higher risk of
dying before the age of 55 in adults whose
mothers were obese in pregnancy.
It is not known how much of the link is down
to genetics, influences in the womb or later
lifestyle.
But the authors say their findings, in the
British Medical Journal, are of "major public
health concern".
One woman in five in the UK is obese at their
antenatal booking appointment.
Premature deaths
The analysis included 28,540 women whose
weight was recorded at their first antenatal
check-up and their 37,709 children now aged
between 34 and 61.
One in five mothers was classed as overweight
with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and
29.9 and 4% werte obese with a BMI above 30.
There were 6,551 premature deaths from any
cause and heart disease was the leading
contributor.
The risk of premature death was 35% higher
among people born to obese mothers
compared with those whose mothers had had
normal weight in pregnancy. This was after
adjusting the results for factors such as the
mother's age at delivery, social class and
infant birthweight.
The results also revealed that children born to
obese mothers went on to be at 42% increased
risk of being treated in hospital for a heart
attack, stroke or angina.
Appetite control
Study leader Prof Rebecca Reynolds, of the
University of Edinburgh, said the results
highlighted the importance of current advice
to maintain a healthy weight, eat sensibly and
keep active during pregnancy.
She added that more work was needed to
unpick the reasons for the increased risk and
to look at the impact of weight gain over
pregnancy.
"It would be nice to know how much of this
risk is modifiable."
Previous research has shown a link between
obesity in pregnancy and changes in appetite
control and metabolism in children.
Prof Sir Stephen O'Rahilly, of the University of
Cambridge, warned that obesity runs in
families.
"Obese people are at higher risk of heart
disease, so it is very likely that the people in
this study whose mothers were obese were
fatter than those whose mothers were lean."
'Eat healthily'
The researchers did not measure or account
for this.
The Royal College of Midwives said it was
important for women to start their pregnancy
at a normal weight.
But Louise Silverton, RCM director for
midwifery, said not all pregnancies are
planned and midwives work hard to support
women avoid excess weight gain and lose
weight sensibly after birth.
Drastic dieting is not recommended.
Doireann Maddock, senior cardiac nurse at the
British Heart Foundation, which part-funded
the study, said: "This study emphasises the
need for everyone, but in particular pregnant
women, to try to eat healthily and be active.