Tots born via caesarean section have a forty per cent greater chance of ending up overweight in later life
Scientists discover that kids delivered via C-section have a 40 per cent greater chance of becoming overweight in later life
CHILDREN born by caesarean section are 40 per cent more likely to become overweight compared to natural births, researchers claim.
Scientists found that babies delivered via C-section had a 40 per cent greater chance of becoming overweight or obese children.
Research suspects it is because children are not exposed to microbes during the conventional birthing process.
Therefore an obese mum's best hope of not having a fat child may be to deliver naturally.
The figures remained the same, regardless of race, birth weight, pre-pregnancy BMI and exposure to air pollution.
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Lead study author Noel Mueller, PhD, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, said: "We think that the reason for the difference may be due to the beneficial microbes found in the birth canal that newborns are exposed to during a vaginal birth.
"We suspect that these microbes may benefit a child's health, including enhancing metabolism and training the immune system.
"We need more studies to determine whether exposing Cesarean-delivered newborns to vaginal microbes at birth can reduce their future risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity."
Researchers analysed data on 1,441 full-term baby deliveries.