Study Finds New Reasons For Pregnant Moms To Avoid Ultra-Processed Foods

A new study has found a link between consuming high levels of ultra-processed foods — including mass-produced bread and bakery items, ready-to-eat meals, packaged sweets, desserts, and snacks — during pregnancy and childhood obesity. According to new study published in the BMJ, these higher levels of ultra-processed foods eaten led to a 26% increased risk of overweight or obesity in children between 7 to 18 years of age. And the child's own consumption of ultra-processed foods had no impact on the outcome of the study.

"Our research highlights the importance of the diet of the mother on not only her health but also the health of her children. Until now, we tended to focus on dietary counseling for middle-aged and older adults to reduce the risk of chronic disease. This clearly shows that we need to encourage healthy eating across the life course," explained Dr. Andrew Chan, study author and professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, per Medical News Today.

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that 14.7 million American children and adolescents are obese. The condition can lead to health issues including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, and more. It's such a problem that in 2010, then-President Barack Obama convened the first task force to solve the issue, and First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Let's Move! campaign to encourage kids to eat healthy and exercise.