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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obesity 'linked to birth defects' | Obesity 'linked to birth defects' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than are mothers of normal weight, a US study suggests. | Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than are mothers of normal weight, a US study suggests. |
| The relevant birth defects include missing limbs and malformed hearts. | The relevant birth defects include missing limbs and malformed hearts. |
| Smaller scale studies in the past have suggested this link, but this is said to be the largest and most comprehensive study to date. | Smaller scale studies in the past have suggested this link, but this is said to be the largest and most comprehensive study to date. |
| University of Texas researchers interviewed more than 15,000 new mothers over a five-year period. | University of Texas researchers interviewed more than 15,000 new mothers over a five-year period. |
| The study appears in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. | |
| Obese women are more likely to have chronic diseases, fertility problems, miscarriages and complications during pregnancy. | Obese women are more likely to have chronic diseases, fertility problems, miscarriages and complications during pregnancy. |
| But the scientists who carried out this research say this is the strongest link so far between obesity at the time of conception and some birth defects. | But the scientists who carried out this research say this is the strongest link so far between obesity at the time of conception and some birth defects. |
| Overall risk 'low' | Overall risk 'low' |
| The University of Texas team interviewed more than 10,000 new mothers who had babies with birth defects. | The University of Texas team interviewed more than 10,000 new mothers who had babies with birth defects. |
| The women were asked for their height and weight at the time they conceived. | The women were asked for their height and weight at the time they conceived. |
| Another group of 5,000 women with healthy babies was also assessed. | Another group of 5,000 women with healthy babies was also assessed. |
| The results suggested that seven different types of birth defect were more common when the mother was obese. | The results suggested that seven different types of birth defect were more common when the mother was obese. |
| They included spina bifida, heart defects, some genital and bowel abnormalities and small or missing toes, fingers, arms or legs. | They included spina bifida, heart defects, some genital and bowel abnormalities and small or missing toes, fingers, arms or legs. |
| Researchers stress the risk of having a baby with birth defects is low, even for obese women. | Researchers stress the risk of having a baby with birth defects is low, even for obese women. |
| Obesity 'epidemic' | Obesity 'epidemic' |
| Amongst women of healthy weight, about three in 100 babies will have serious birth defects. That seems to rise to about four in 100 for obese mothers. | Amongst women of healthy weight, about three in 100 babies will have serious birth defects. That seems to rise to about four in 100 for obese mothers. |
| The researchers are not sure how to explain their findings. | The researchers are not sure how to explain their findings. |
| The defects may be a direct result of obesity but could equally relate to other factors, like diet. | The defects may be a direct result of obesity but could equally relate to other factors, like diet. |
| Those questions will be addressed by further research. | Those questions will be addressed by further research. |
| Professor Nick Wald at The UK's Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine said the defects may not be related to the actual weight of the mother. | Professor Nick Wald at The UK's Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine said the defects may not be related to the actual weight of the mother. |
| Incidents of spina bifida, a condition which occurs when part of the spinal cord is uncovered, have been greatly reduced by better nutrition and in particular the addition of folic acid to pregnant women's diet. | Incidents of spina bifida, a condition which occurs when part of the spinal cord is uncovered, have been greatly reduced by better nutrition and in particular the addition of folic acid to pregnant women's diet. |
| "The women in this study may not be getting adequate nutritional intake," he said. | "The women in this study may not be getting adequate nutritional intake," he said. |
| "And while they have tried to exclude diabetics, there may be many cases of Type 2 which have gone undetected, and this has long been known to pose a risk in pregnancy." | "And while they have tried to exclude diabetics, there may be many cases of Type 2 which have gone undetected, and this has long been known to pose a risk in pregnancy." |
| Professor Michael Patton, the medical director of charity BDF (Birth Defects Foundation) Newlife, said: "At present there are no increased concerns for mothers who are overweight but the best advice is still to eat a healthy balanced diet before and during pregnancy." | |
| The World Health Organization says global obesity has now reached epidemic proportions. | The World Health Organization says global obesity has now reached epidemic proportions. |
| It estimates that more than one billion adults are overweight, about a third of them clinically obese. | It estimates that more than one billion adults are overweight, about a third of them clinically obese. |