On Junk Food, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding and Obese Offspring

Filed in archive Cases , Studies on August 19, 2007

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Pregnant and breastfeeding women maybe "eating for two" but should avoid fatty, sugary and salty foods because by doing so they may be putting their children at risk of overeating and obesity.

Such were the findings of a study funded by the Wellcome Trust which was carried out at the Royal Veterinary College, London.

Well, I've been pregnant and have breastfed once before and yes it was a time of a big excuse to just eat and eat and eat, I admit. And if you don't watch it, you might be eating lots of "Junk food".

The said study, done in rats, demonstrated that rats fed a diet of processed junk food such as doughnuts, muffins, biscuits, crisps and sweets during pregnancy and lactation gave birth to offspring which overate and had a preference for junk foods rich in fat, sugar and salt when compared to the offspring of rats given regular feed.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, have a huge implication in humans.

According to lead author Dr Stéphanie Bayol:

"Our study has shown that eating large quantities of junk food when pregnant and breastfeeding could impair the normal control of appetite and promote an exacerbated taste for junk food in offspring.
This could send offspring on the road to obesity and make the task of teaching healthy eating habits in children even more challenging."

That's really interesting...maybe it explains my four-year-old's tendency to overeat?

What do we do then? If you are pregnant or breast feeding, each time you crave for a salty junk foods or sugary biscuits, go for an apple or a banana (or any other fruits available to you) instead. I guess that will help.

BUT...I know that it is easier said than done, but just thinking of your offspring's health may just motivate you to do so.

Source: Wellcome Trust