Don't blame C-sections for fat children

CHILDREN born by Cesarean section are no more likely to become obese than if they are born vaginally, according to a Brazilian study.

Past researches from Brazil had found a link between excessive weight and C-sections, leading some scientists to suggest that not being exposed to bacteria from the birth canal could make children fatter, but the latest findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggest this doesn't appear to be the case.

"We thought from the beginning that probably what happened with the previous study is that they didn't adjust for all of the confounders," said Fernando Barros of the Catholic University of Pelotas, who worked on the study, referring to factors such as the mother's height and weight.

Barros and his colleagues used data on three groups of several thousand people born in Southern Brazil in 1982, 1993 or 2004.

Researchers contacted the children at different ages until the oldest had turned 23.

Those born by C-section were more likely to be heavy, with obesity rates between nine and 16 per cent, compared to rates of seven to 10 per cent of children born vaginally.

However, that difference vanished once the researchers accounted for factors such as family income, birth weight, schooling and the mother's weight, height, age and smoking habits.

"When you factor in all of these other factors, the relationship between obesity and Cesarean sections disappears," said Barros.

Reuters