A Four-Dimensional Ultrasound
A four dimensional ultrasound is seen at a pregnancy clinic in Arlington, Texas November 26, 2007. The clinic offers free services to what it deems are "vulnerable women" considering an abortion. Part of a program called "Option Ultrasound," sponsored by the conservative advocacy group Focus on the Family, the clinic works on the principle that women who view images of their fetus are less likely to have an abortion. Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi

Researchers from Edinburgh University have found women, during pregnancy, gained too much weight and that increase the risk of children developing health problems later on in their life. The findings were published as a part of a European obesity project.

For the study, researchers followed about 13,000 people from birth in the last 80 years, since 1930s and 40s, until their present age. The researchers found that the placenta of pregnant women who ate a high-fat diet was weakened resulting in lesser protection for the foetus against cortisol, a primary stress hormone. This could result in the children suffering from mood disorders when they grew up.

According to the Daily Mail, women usually said that they were eating for two when they were expecting so that they could feed their offspring as well. Researchers said that babies, who were born to mothers who became overweight during the later stages of the pregnancy, had a higher chance of developing illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Other findings of the study were in relation to telomeres, which are the protective caps at the end of the DNA protecting the chromosomes. Scientists said that long telomeres protected the DNA and enabled it to function and repair and that shorter telomeres are signs of disease or a shorter lifespan.

Dr Patricia Iozzo, the head of endrocrinology-metabolism and nuclear medicine at the Institute of Clinical Physiology and the leader of the project, said that a pregnant woman born with short telomeres and had a high body mass index could reverse the situation of being overweight or showing signs of disease by being physically active. The pregnant women could then produce healthy children.

Researchers said that pregnant women should take steps to ensure that they lead a lifestyle that is healthy. The period right before birth that was usually considered to be "fundamental" for giving children the best chance and researchers said that even during that period, the women should lead a good lifestyle.

The project highlighted the importance of following a healthy and balanced diet. The conclusion of the study was that strategies should come into place so that obesity could be prevented in women who are of childbearing age as well as young girls.

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