Scientists who had observed mother interact with their infant children said that overweight mothers tend to overfeed their children who in turn become obese in childhood only.
Researchers who had conducted the study, which was published in the Nutrition Journal, had linked maternal body weight and composition with infant feeding patterns and maternal-infant interactions. They tested their findings through 24-hour metabolic rate measurements done with the help of the Enhanced Metabolic Testing Activity Chamber (EMTAC). Maternal body composition was determined by air displacement plethysmorgraphy while for that of infants was done by skin-fold thickness.The results of the study showed that children born to obese mothers take more energy intake as carbohydrates than other normal infants. This was mostly because of extra feedings given in between meals. Infants of obese mothers eat more as the weights of their mothers increased. These mothers also spend less time interacting with their children, and the overweight children slept more than the children of normal body weights.
The new study brings to light why some infants are predisposed to carrying excess weights than others, and how the body weight of mothers affect the food intake of the children, even in infancy.
Reference: Nutrition Journal, May 2005
