Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy and while breastfeeding may be putting their children at risk of becoming obese, according to a study carried out at the Royal Veterinary College, London. The researchers suggest that pregnant and breastfeeding women should not indulge in fatty, sugary and salty foods under the misguided assumption that they are "eating for two." Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the study found that rats fed a diet of junk food such as doughnuts, muffins, biscuits and candy during pregnancy and lactation gave birth to offspring which overate and had a preference for junk foods rich in fat, sugar and salt. The researchers believe the findings could have important implications for humans.
"Our study has shown that eating large quantities of junk food when pregnant and breastfeeding could impair the normal control of appetite and promote an exacerbated taste for junk food in offspring," says researcher Stéphanie Bayol. "This could send offspring on the road to obesity and make the task of teaching healthy eating habits in children even more challenging."
Controlling appetite is a complex function, involving hormones which signal to the brain to regulate energy balance, hunger and satiety (feeling of fullness). Previous research has shown that junk foods rich in fat and sugar inhibit the satiety signals while promoting hunger and stimulating the reward centers. "Exposure to a maternal junk food diet during their fetal and suckling life might help explain why some individuals might find it harder than others to control their junk food intake even when given access to healthier foods later in life," concluded Bayol.
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Source: Wellcome Trust
