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Trades · 04-10-2012, 10:11 AM

[B]Study Finds Autism Could Be Linked To Obesity During Pregnancy[/B]

[QUOTE]
[B](CBS) –[/B] A new study out today raises some serious concerns about unborn babies and the potential for autism.

CBS 2′s Marissa Bailey reports the results of the study – conducted by researchers at the MIND Institute at the University of California Davis – are among the first linking [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]obesity[/COLOR][/URL] and autism.

Although there was no proof that obesity causes autism, [URL="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/04/04/peds.2011-2583.abstract"]researchers found a possible link between obesity in pregnant women, diabetes, and autism.[/URL] The numbers are quite telling.

Researchers looked at 1,000 [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]mothers[/COLOR][/URL] and their children, and found that moms who were obese during pregnancy were 67 percent more likely to have a child with autism, compared to women who were considered to be a normal weight.

Researchers said up-and-down sugar levels during pregnancy might affect the unborn baby.

UC Davis professor Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto said, “There’s a general feeling that some of the origins of autism are probably in the prenatal period, when the brain is developing at a very rapid rate.”

It’s not just obesity that researchers say might affect an unborn baby. Results show mothers with diabetes during pregnancy also increase the chance of their child developing a form of autism.

The numbers show they are more than twice as likely to have a child with developmental delays, and low scores on language and communication tests.

Still, the findings are significant.

“If this does turn out to be a causal relationship, that there are actions that people can actually take, and that’s the point, is we’re trying to find modifiable factors – which, by and large, genetics is not,” Hertz-Picciotto said.

Doctors said the study does not prove that obesity and diabetes cause autism, but the findings are considered alarming.

The U.S. [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]Centers[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]for[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Disease[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Control[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]and[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Prevention[/COLOR][/URL] now estimate one in 88 children have autism in the U.S. More than one-third of American women in their childbearing years are considered obese.
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04-10-2012, 10:11 AM	#1
Trades Jets Insider VIP Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,558	Study Finds Autism Could Be Linked To Obesity During Pregnancy [B]Study Finds Autism Could Be Linked To Obesity During Pregnancy[/B] [QUOTE] [B](CBS) –[/B] A new study out today raises some serious concerns about unborn babies and the potential for autism. CBS 2′s Marissa Bailey reports the results of the study – conducted by researchers at the MIND Institute at the University of California Davis – are among the first linking [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]obesity[/COLOR][/URL] and autism. Although there was no proof that obesity causes autism, [URL="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/04/04/peds.2011-2583.abstract"]researchers found a possible link between obesity in pregnant women, diabetes, and autism.[/URL] The numbers are quite telling. Researchers looked at 1,000 [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]mothers[/COLOR][/URL] and their children, and found that moms who were obese during pregnancy were 67 percent more likely to have a child with autism, compared to women who were considered to be a normal weight. Researchers said up-and-down sugar levels during pregnancy might affect the unborn baby. UC Davis professor Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto said, “There’s a general feeling that some of the origins of autism are probably in the prenatal period, when the brain is developing at a very rapid rate.” It’s not just obesity that researchers say might affect an unborn baby. Results show mothers with diabetes during pregnancy also increase the chance of their child developing a form of autism. The numbers show they are more than twice as likely to have a child with developmental delays, and low scores on language and communication tests. Still, the findings are significant. “If this does turn out to be a causal relationship, that there are actions that people can actually take, and that’s the point, is we’re trying to find modifiable factors – which, by and large, genetics is not,” Hertz-Picciotto said. Doctors said the study does not prove that obesity and diabetes cause autism, but the findings are considered alarming. The U.S. [URL="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/09/study-finds-autism-could-be-linked-to-obesity-during-pregnancy/#"][COLOR=darkgreen]Centers[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]for[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Disease[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Control[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]and[/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen] [/COLOR][COLOR=darkgreen]Prevention[/COLOR][/URL] now estimate one in 88 children have autism in the U.S. More than one-third of American women in their childbearing years are considered obese. [/QUOTE]