News and Opinion

There are stories relating to obesity breaking around the world every day.  The stories below are those where journalists haver sought NOF opnion/quotes or summaries of research on which NOF may have a view.  Where possible the source of the stories are identified by the newspaper banner or a URL in red.

NOF Opinion will always be identified in italics.

Eating for two risks harm to the baby

A new study reporting that women who tip the the scales far too heavily – 1/6 classed as obese at booking in – babies suffering from range of problems: low IQs, eating disorders and psychosis in both early childhood and adolescence. Scientists have also found that more than 100,000 babies a year were at risk of dying or suffering serious problems because of the risks from pregnancy which puts a woman's body under extra strain, when it is working to nurture new life. [Obesity Reviews]

Women are not getting the message to “ shape up  " before planning a family.   Even those that do easily fall into the category of obese if they used pregnancy as an excuse to ditch sensible eating habits.   There is still a lot of folklore about pregnancy, and a lot of women who still believe that 'eating for two' is the way to nurture their child.