(24-07-12) As Mom?s Weight Goes Up, Baby?s Brain Function Drops

While maintaining a healthy weight is important for everyone, multiple studies
have shown that it is particularly important for women who are trying to get
pregnant to avoid obesity; it may impact their own health as well as that of
their child. For example, a December study published in Seminars in
Perinatology found that many obese women tend to be deficient in the vitamins
needed for a healthy pregnancy.

Now, researchers from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have discovered
that maternal obesity is associated with cognitive impairment in extremely
premature babies, which is defined as babies who are born before 28 weeks of
gestation. The scientists found that both a mother?s weight and socioeconomic
background may be contributing to a baby?s cognitive function.

?We weren?t really surprised by the socioeconomic factors because it has been
repeatedly shown that social disadvantage predicts worse infant outcomes,? said
lead author Jennifer Helderman, M.D. ?However, obesity is of particular
interest because it is becoming more prevalent and it is potentially modifiable
during the pre-conception period and pregnancy.?

The researchers noted that there are more than 30,000 extremely premature
babies born in the U.S. each year.

Source: Easy Health Options Staff

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