Scientists discover why a mother's high-fat diet contributes to obesity in her children

Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 11:35 in Health & Medicine

New research published online in The FASEB Journal suggests that pregnant women should think twice about high-fat foods. In a study from the University of Cincinnati and the Medical College of Georgia, scientists found that female mice fed high fat diets were more likely to have oversized offspring (a risk factor for overweight and obesity) because fat causes the placenta to go into "overdrive" by providing too many nutrients to the fetus. This information also suggests that the reverse may be true as well—high fat diets may help prevent undersized babies.

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