Each year, it is estimated that 8% of pregnant women in the
US develop gestational diabetes, where hyperglycemia and insulin resistance
develop as a result of pregnancy. The childhood obesity rate has doubled in the
last two decades and it is estimated that 7 million overweight or obese children
will grow into overweight or obese adults.
A study in the September issue of Diabetes Care has found the risk of childhood
obesity increases in line with the pregnant mother's blood sugar levels. The
research team of Kaiser Permanent Center for Health Research analyzed records of
nearly 9,500 mother-child pairs who were members of the organizations health
plan through the years of 1995 and 2000. The evidence found that diabetes in
pregnant women resulted in an 89 percent higher risk of the child becoming
overweight and an 82 percent higher risk of the child becoming obese between the
ages of 5 and 7 years.
Researchers found that when pregnant women were treated for diabetes, the child
obesity risk was reduced to the same level of children born from mothers who had
normal blood sugar levels. Lead author, Dr. Teresa Hillier advises pregnant
women to talk to their doctor about diabetes screening and, if necessary, should
work with their doctor to receive treatment.
