Women who exercise during pregnancy produce \’lighter babies\’
Dr Paul Hofman, from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, said: \’\’Our findings show that regular aerobic exercise alters the maternal environment in some way that has an impact on nutrient stimulation of fetal growth, resulting in a reduction in offspring birth weight.
\’\’Given that large birth size is associated with an increased risk of obesity, a modest reduction in birth weight may have long-term health benefits for offspring by lowering this risk in later life.\’\’
The snigger is that smoking also reduces birth weight. Which, if reducing birth weight is a good thing, rather makes a mockery of the advice given for decades that women shouldn\’t smoke during pregnancy because it will reduce the weight of their babies.
”Given that large birth size is associated with an increased risk of obesity …”
Correlation or causation?
A well fed mother producing a well fed baby which grows into a well fed child/grown up would not be surprising.
I thought low birth weight was a bad thing?
Jonathan, you’re so March 2010!
Reminds me of an old poster from Viz:
‘Warning: Smoking whilst pregnant leads to low birth weights. Mind you, who wants to give birth to a fat baby anyway?’