In the study, the researchers examined nearly 200 groups of active nerve cells in the fetal brain and found associations between the high body mass index (BMI) of mothers and the two areas of the fetal brain: the prefrontal cortex and the anterior insula. Studies have linked changes in these regions to psychological disorders such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
“Our findings suggest that maternal obesity may play a role in fetal brain development, which could explain some of the cognitive and metabolic health problems seen in children born to mothers with a higher BMI,” said one from study authors Moriah Thomason.
Although it found this association, the study did not seek to establish the differences found in the result, which clearly would require more studies to delve into the subject.
FUNIBER promotes the Master’s Degree in Maternal-Child Nutrition, a program with a high-level and innovative academic approach, which analyzes in depth all the stages related to motherhood, childhood and adolescence, considering both the nutritional status prior to the conception as the conditions that can determine a good development. It also addresses the different phenomena that can affect fertility, both female and male.