Overweight Moms More Likely to Have Overweight Kids

Ohio State University researchers found that babies born to women who were overweight at the start of their pregnancies had up to three times the risk of becoming overweight themselves compared to children of women at normal weight. In mothers who smoked during their pregnancy, the risk of a child becoming overweight was nearly doubled. The findings appear in the December issue of Pediatrics.

Their analysis included more than 3,000 children, who were weighed when they were roughly ages 3, 5 and 7 years.

"As parents, we need to look at ourselves and see how we take care of ourselves. That will influence what our children see. Childhood obesity isn't a child's problem; it's a family problem and ultimately, society's problem. We can't just address childhood obesity; obesity is the issue," said Dr. Helen Binns, director of the nutrition evaluation clinic at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Courtesy of HealthDay