Mother's obesity may interfere with child's brain development: Study

Mother's obesity may interfere with child's brain development: Study

Obesity in expectant mothers may be a contributing factor in hindering the development of the babies' brains, according to a new study.

Led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the investigation linked high body mass index (BMI), an indicator of obesity, to changes in two brain areas, the prefrontal cortex, and anterior insula.

These regions play a key role in decision-making and behaviour, with disruptions having previously been linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and overeating.