194. Obesity during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of later cardiovascular disease in the children
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A new study suggests that mothers with obesity during pregnancy could increase the risk of their children developing cardiac problems in later life. In the study, published in The Journal of Physiology, researchers from the University of Colorado studied pregnant mice and the hearts of each mouse’s fetus. They observed that the hearts of fetuses of obese female mice were larger, weighed more, had thicker walls and showed signs of inflammation. These changes impair how efficiently the heart contracts and pumps blood around the body. Obesity has become a common problem, affecting almost one third of women of childbearing age. While further research is needed looking at obesity in human mothers and later cardiovascular disease in their offspring, it suggests healthcare professionals offer treatments and nutritional advice for mothers and women looking to become pregnant.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
