Pregnant women who believe in the myth of ‘eating for two’ put their children at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, a study shows.
Nearly half of mothers-to-be put on too much weight, recent research shows.
Now a survey of 900 women has found a link to children who developed insulin resistance – a key precursor of diabetes – at age seven. There was also a link to obesity and high blood pressure, the Chinese University of Hong Kong researchers found.
US guidelines recommend mothers of a healthy weight put on no more than 2st 7lb (15 kgs) during pregnancy.
But the Royal College of Midwives’ Mandy Forrester says there is no UK equivalent, adding: ‘This highlights the need for guidelines here.’