Obese mothers ‘more likely to have children with ADHD and depression’

October 25, 2016

Researchers assessed the impact of being severely obese on children
Youngsters were found to have a higher chance of sleeping problems
Helping women keep a healthy weight could address the risk, experts say

Stephen Matthews For Mailonline

Published:
11:53 EST, 25 October 2016

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Updated:
14:06 EST, 25 October 2016

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Children born to overweight mothers have a higher chance of developing ADHD, scientists warn.

They are also more likely to suffer from sleeping problems, anxiety and depression, a study found.

Public health strategies to help women planning pregnancies reach and maintain a healthy weight could address the risk, experts say.

Recognising severe obesity as a risk factor could also lead to the development of prevention strategies.

Children born to overweight mothers have a higher chance of developing ADHD, sleeping problems and depression, scientists found

Researchers from the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Helsinki, Finland, assessed the impact of obesity on children.

The mothers were classed as severely obese – with a body mass index of 40 or above.

They also studied symptoms of mental disorders linked to the nervous system in 112 children aged three to five, who were born to obese mothers.

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Youngsters born to severely obese women had a ‘significantly higher’ chance of hyperactivity and sleep problems.

They were also more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and aggressive behaviour.

The risk remained higher even when other factors were taken into account, such as the mother’s mental health, social status and whether she smoked.

The risk of children remained higher even when other factors were taken into account, researchers discovered (stock)

Researchers said the results suggest risks are higher for children of severely obese mothers and could mean maternal weight is a strong indicator for whether children are likely to develop brain-related psychiatric disorders.

Study author Professor Rebecca Reynolds, from the University of Edinburgh said: ‘This research underlines the importance of finding ways of helping women plan for pregnancy by optimising their health, including reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.’

The findings are published in the journal Psychological Medicine and the research was funded by the charity Tommy’s.