Dieting During Pregnancy May Affects Baby
Women who diet during pregnancy are putting their children at serious health risk, say experts. The study conducted by the researchers of 200 children at the University of Southampton found that the mother’s diet in pregnancy influences the child’s susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The study analysed and correlated that the lower the mother’s calorific intake during pregnancy, the thicker the child’s artery walls. The researchers used ultrasound scans to measure the thickness of the wall of the carotid artery in these children. Experts usually say a pregnant woman needs to eat around 2,500 calories per day.
These children, they said, are at greater risk of developing atherosclerosis - the thickening of the artery walls due to fatty deposits - and may as a result suffer from heart attacks and strokes later in life. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the artery walls thicken due to fat deposits thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researcher Dr Catharine Gale said atherosclerosis was a progressive condition that started early in life.
“Our study provides direct evidence for the first time in humans that the mother’s diet in pregnancy might influence the child’s susceptibility to atherosclerosis.
Though doctors and experts advice pregnant women to eat about 2,500 calories a day but the split up of calories that came from protein, fat and carbohydrates is not known.
The researchers said it did not matter what proportion of the calorie intake came from fat, protein or carbohydrate - it was the total calorie intake that was important. The association between artery thickness and calorific intake remained strong even after taking account of factors such as social class, smoking, exercise habits and sickness in pregnancy.
Judy O’Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study indicates that a low calorie intake during pregnancy affects the thickness of the carotid artery.
“This thickness can be a good indication of athersclerosis in adults but more work needs to be done before we can say the same is true for children. Our advice to pregnant women is that a healthy balanced diet is essential to give both mother and baby the best chance of a healthier life.
“A restricted or low calorie diet should not be followed during pregnancy.”
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One Response to “Dieting During Pregnancy May Affects Baby”
[…] If women are too thin, they can stop menstruating - meaning they cannot become pregnant. Strict diets can also result in low dietary intakes of nutrients essential for pregnancy. A low body fat percentage may also harm fertility. In normal adult women, fat comprises about 28 per cent of body weight and if it drops below 22 per cent, ovulation may stop. “Victoria’s agreed to go along with it because she and David are happier than ever at the moment and also because she is desperate to conceive. After having three sons, who they love dearly, both of them would absolutely love a little girl to dote on.” It also emerged that she had to have her clothes altered to stop them from swamping her rail-thin frame. Related Post: Culinary Villains for DietSeven Myths of Weight Loss Diet ProgramTen Secrets of Staying Slim for Active Busy WomenHow Women Get The Twins BabyMorning Sickness, Sign Of Eating Badly Mom [link] […]
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