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Children with abnormalities are more likely to be born to overweight mothers
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Women who are overweight or have diabetes have a higher risk of having a child with autism or another developmental disorder, according to American scientists from the University of California, Davis.
According to them, high blood glucose levels in the expectant mother during pregnancy can negatively affect the development of the fetus's brain.
The study, which was conducted over seven years (2003 to 2010), involved 1,000 women and children (aged two to five years).
In the US state of California, where the study was conducted, 1.3% of women have type 2 diabetes; another 7.4% of women developed diabetes during pregnancy.
Among the children observed by the scientists and whose mothers had type 2 diabetes, 9.3% suffered from autism.
And 11.6% of the children in this same group showed signs of other developmental abnormalities. This is almost twice as many as in children whose mothers did not suffer from a metabolic disorder.
More than 20% of mothers of autistic and developmentally delayed children were obese.
Cognitive abilities
In the United States, the study found, 34% of women of childbearing age are obese and about 9% have diabetes.
Approximately 29% of children with autism were born to mothers who were overweight, had diabetes, or had high blood pressure during pregnancy.
About 35% of children of mothers in this group suffered from other developmental disabilities, while in the control group this figure was 19%.
Scientists have also investigated the question of whether there is a link between hypertension and autism and other diseases, but based on the statistics obtained, it is impossible to give a clear answer to this question.
In terms of cognitive abilities, experts found that among autistic children, children of diabetic mothers performed worse on tests of language and communication skills.
All autistic children whose mothers had a metabolic disorder showed lower test scores.
Researchers point out that obesity is a very serious risk factor for diabetes and hypertension.
Promising work
According to UC Davis psychiatrist Paula Krakowiak, this scientific research is very important.
"Our findings, showing a possible link between maternal illness and developmental disabilities in the child, are very concerning and may have important implications for the health care system," she said.
The head of the UK Diabetes Research Centre, Matthew Hobbs, says the study needs to be continued to clarify questions that this work has not answered.
"It should be noted that although this study suggests a link between maternal diabetes and various developmental disabilities in children, the study does not prove that diabetes causes these disorders," he said. "Our advice to diabetics remains the same: you should tell your endocrinologist that you are planning to have a baby, and then together you can take all necessary steps to ensure a normal pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby."
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