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15 November 2007
Overweight In Pregnancy Can Lead To Hyperactive Children 
Women who are overweight when they become pregnant run a much greater risk that their children will exhibit ADHD-like symptoms when they reach school age, reports a study by researchers from Uppsala University. The findings, based on more than 12,500 children in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, show for the first time that there is a correlation between the mother's body mass index (BMI) at the time she becomes pregnant and symptoms like hyperactivity and concentration problems in the child. "Many children are being diagnosed with ADHD and at the same time there is an epidemic of obesity in the world, with more and more women already overweight at the time they become pregnant. If it turns out that the mother's weight is of significance and, together with other factors, can influence ADHD-like symptoms in the child, we have not only found a contributory cause but also a potential avenue for preventive work that can enhance the well-being of both mother and child," says Uppsala's Alina Rodriguez.
Worryingly, the correlation between the mother's BMI and the child's symptoms was found not only in those cases where the mother suffered from pronounced obesity but also in cases where the women were moderately overweight. Expectant mothers who were already overweight and moreover gained a considerable amount of weight during the course of the pregnancy ran a greater risk of having a child who would later show signs of ADHD than did women of normal weight who experienced the same weight gain during pregnancy. One possible explanation is that the risk of complications during pregnancy is greater among overweight women. The fetus can also be affected by stress hormones from the mother, or by hormones or environmental toxins that are stored in the mother's fatty tissue. Related:
Binge Eating A Byproduct Of Pregnancy?
Junk Food Addiction Passed On Through Breast Milk
Experiences In Womb Can Profoundly Influence Adult Life
Obesity - Time To Get Serious Source: International Journal of Obesity
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