Autism, Maternal Obesity Linked

Maternal obesity may contribute to autism and other developmental disorders, new research shows. A study of 1,000 California children found that those born with developmental issues were more likely to have mothers who were obese or diabetic. “Our findings raise concerns that these maternal conditions may be associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children and therefore could have serious public health implications,” the researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics. It is estimated that one American child out of every 88 falls somewhere along the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.