A recent study has found that babies conceived by mothers with obesity are more likely to develop heart problems and diabetes as adults. The study published in the Journal of Physiology has found that the babies have increased risk attributed to fatal damage caused by the mother’s high-fat, high-energy diet.
The study discovered that maternal obesity alters a critical thyroid hormone in the fatal heart, disrupting its development.
This alteration can lead to cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance in adulthood, even if the baby is born at a normal weight.
Researchers at the University of South Australia analyzed tissue samples from fetuses of pregnant baboons fed a high-fat, high-energy diet. They compared these samples to those from baboons on a control diet, revealing a clear link between unhealthy maternal diet and poor cardiovascular health.
Lead author Melanie Bertossa explained that the findings demonstrate a significant connection between high-fat, sugary diets and disrupted thyroid hormone levels in the fatal heart. This disruption can permanently impact heart development, increasing the risk of cardiac insulin resistance and diabetes.
Bertossa emphasized that the fetal heart’s development is critical, as heart cells are formed before birth and cannot be replaced. Changes to these cells can persist throughout life, leading to declined heart health in adolescence and adulthood.
Senior author Professor Janna Morrison stressed the importance of good maternal nutrition before pregnancy, not only for the mother’s health but also for the babies. She recommends cardiometabolic health screening for all babies born to women with high-fat, high-energy diets, regardless of birth weight.
The researchers warn that rising rates of obesity and high-fat, sugary diets will lead to increased health complications, potentially resulting in shorter life spans. However, they hope that awareness of these risks will inspire change.
The University of South Australia team is conducting long-term studies to track the health of babies born to women on high-fat, high-energy diets. These studies aim to provide valuable insights into the lifelong consequences of maternal obesity and inform strategies for prevention and early intervention.
