Pregnant mothers who constantly eat fish may give birth to children more prone to obesity. Children born to women who consumed fish for more than three times a week grow bigger and fatter faster.
The study, now published in JAMA Pediatrics, was led by Leda Chatzi of Greece's University of Crete. Data from 26,184 pregnant mothers and their babies residing across the United States and Europe led to the conclusion that there is a strong relationship between fish consumption of mothers during pregnancy and childhood obesity. The children in the study were followed until they reached the age of 6.
According to the team behind the study, eating fish exposes humans to persistent organic pollutants. These substances can disrupt a person's normal endocrine function and make them obese. Somehow, when mothers consumed more fish while pregnant, their children's endocrine operation is already being disrupted. "Contamination by environmental pollutants in fish could provide an explanation for the observed association between high fish intake in pregnancy and increased childhood adiposity," the researchers revealed.
Globally, women who consumed more fish that the recommended three times per week gave birth to children with a higher BMI. This high BMI persists until the children reach the age of 6. These effects were more pronounced among girls than boys.
The researchers also stated why their findings are significant. More than ever, childhood obesity is a critical social problem that needs to be reversed. "Rapid weight gain in infancy has consistently been associated with a subsequent elevated risk of obesity in childhood and later in adulthood," the researchers wrote.
Back in 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released some updated recommendations that stated pregnant women should have two to three servings, or between eight and 12 ounces, of fish only per week. Moreover, they should be only eating the types of fish that are known to have low mercury levels.
