Rising Numbers Of 'Sumo Babies' Born To Overweight Mothers Who 'Eat For Two', Warn Experts
WTF Is A 'Sumo Baby'?
PA/The Huffington Post UK
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Overweight women who "eat for two" during pregnancy could be at risk of giving birth to a "sumo baby", experts have warned as the number of larger-than-average newborns rise.
The National Obesity Forum said the number of larger newborns has been increasing since the 1960s because of the rising number of overweight and obese pregnant women.
The comments were made after figures obtained by The Sun found that almost a third of maternity wards have delivered babies weighing more than 12lb.
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The average weight of a newborn is 7lb 4oz for a girl and 7lb 8oz for a boy. Yet freedom of information requests from the newspaper found that 38 out of 139 English maternity units had delivered children weighing in excess of 12lb in the last year.
Another five delivered babies weighing more than 13lb.
Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said: "The first sumo babies were being reported in 1966 and the numbers have been growing very steadily, but really started to escalate in the last decade.
"It is a direct consequence of women going into pregnancy overweight and obese and thereby producing large babies.
"Unfortunately there is this old habit of 'eating for two'."
NHS guidance says that women do not need to "eat for two". They are advised to consume only an additional 200 calories per day in the third trimester of pregnancy.
But Mr Fry said that pregnant women classed as overweight, with a body mass index score of 25 to 30, are deemed "OK" by health workers but they could easily become obese, with a BMI of 30 and over, while pregnant.
Being obese during pregnancy is "dangerous for the mother, dangerous for the baby, it is expensive for the NHS and it is something that will continue until somebody in Government wakes up and really addresses the root causes of obesity", Mr Fry said.
"We expect this to continue rising until something is properly done.
"Society is responsible for its own negligence in properly instituting pre-conception advice and failing to get across to women that they really need to think months before they conceive about getting in shape."
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Superfoods For Pregnancy
Superfoods For Pregnancy(01 of12)
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(credit:Alamy)
Tofu Smoothie(02 of12)
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Benefit To Baby: Healthy GrowthProtein is needed to build and repair cells, and is essential to a baby's development and growth. Red meat and dairy are rich in protein, but they're also high in saturated fats. Balance your diet with fish protein (in all fish products), which also contains essential fatty acids. And don't forget vegetable protein, which includes brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, lentils, baked beans, pumpkin seeds and cashew nuts.A great alternative protein source, tofu is low in fat and will help balance those blood sugar levels. Add to juice from pomegranate and mixed berries for a sweet drink that also packs a powerful antioxidant punch. (credit:Alamy)
Sunflower Seeds(03 of12)
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Benefit For Mother And Baby: Boost Energy Levels And Provides Nutrition To BabyIron is vital for your baby's physical growth and brain development, and helps produce the blood required to supply nutrition to the placenta.Not enough iron, and you can feel tired and be more susceptible to infections. There's also a greater risk of premature birth and your baby having a low birth weight. (credit:Alamy)
Eggs(04 of12)
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Benefit To Baby: Brain DevelopmentVitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, helps your body metabolise protein, fats, and carbohydrates. It also helps form new red blood cells, antibodies, and neurotransmitters, and is vital to your baby's developing brain and nervous system. (credit:Alamy)
Pumpkin(05 of12)
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Benefit To Mother: Helps ConstipationMany pregnant women suffer from constipation, which is cause by an influx of hormonal changes that play havoc with the digestive system. It To avoid discomfort and to help regulate your bowels, eating a rich fibre diet will help get things moving, as they help absorb excess acid and gas, help to speed up digestion and empty your stomach faster.Foods like brown rice, dried figs, kidney beans and avocado are all rich sources of fibre. Pumpkins are great as they offer fibre plus it's said to act like a mild laxative. (credit:Alamy)
Yoghurt And Honey(06 of12)
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Benefit To Mother And Baby: Increases Energy Levels And Bone BuildingHigh in calcium (important during pregnancy for building your baby's bones) with a sweet kick from the honey, this treat should tide you over without making you sleepy.Dairy foods provide vitamins A and D, which are essential for bone-building and bone maintenance for you and your baby. They are also a good source of protein. (credit:Alamy)
Figs(07 of12)
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Benefit to Mother: Eases Heartburn And Water RetentionDried figs are laden with digestive enzymes, which should help you to digest your food and ease those heartburn symptoms. They're also rich in the essential mineral potassium, which helps to maintain the body's fluid balance during pregnancy, which is essential to battling swollen legs, hands and ankles. (credit:Alamy)
Oily Fish(08 of12)
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Benefit To Baby: Maintains Healthy Nervous SystemOmega-3 fatty acids are vital for your baby's brain and nervous system, as well as your own mental health.Foods rich in omega-3 include oily fish like fresh tuna, mackerel and sardines, although restrict your intake to twice a week, as too much fish can increase risk of pollutants.Fatty acids help brain development and work to improve its function, so as well as being nutritious, slow-releasing energy snacks, like sesame seeds, which help keep you mentally alert and working well throughout the day. (credit:Alamy)
Ginger(09 of12)
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Benefit To Mother: Alleviates Morning SicknessGinger has long been associated with alleviating nausea and has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to help digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years.Ginger biscuits are a good food to nibble on when the nausea starts, or sip on ginger tea or suck on ginger flavoured sweets. Peppermint and mint are also great nausea-relieving agents too. (credit:Alamy)
Sweet Potato(10 of12)
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Benefit To Baby: Strengthens BonesSweet potatoes offer a rich source of folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects in foetuses. It also protects your unborn baby from spinal cord problems, such as spina bifida. lentils are also a great for increasing your folic acid intake, as one cup provides 358mcg of folic acid, almost the daily requirement of 400mcg.Fruits like strawberries are a great way to get your folic acid, and even tastier if you dip them in chocolate!Scientists in Finland found that eating chocolate when pregnant resulted in happier, livelier babies, but keep your waistline in mind and be conservative when dipping. (credit:Alamy)
Almonds And Apricots(11 of12)
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Benefit To Mother: Curbs Food CravingsA handful of almonds and apricots will provide you with a sweet kick that's high in protein - this will help to curb cravings as well as keeping you feeling fuller for longer. (credit:Alamy)
Parsnips(12 of12)
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Benefit To Mother: Protects From Pre-eclampsiaParsnips are a good source of fibre and folate (the natural form of folic acid), as well as providing potassium (associated with a lowering in blood pressure) which is vital for protecting against pre-eclampsia, a condition caused by high blood pressure. (credit:Alamy)
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist and director of diet and obesity at Public Health England, said: "There is a significant relationship between maternal obesity and large birth weight, and the subsequent development of childhood and adult obesity.
"Obese women also have an increased risk of type two diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and gestational diabetes. Studies show that women who have diabetes during pregnancy are more likely to have children who are obese, compared to those who do not.
"As a result, diabetes and obesity are both key factors in the risk of large birth weight, and obesity is the main contributing risk factor for the development of type two diabetes.
"Obesity is in general difficult to reverse. Public Health England is working hard to tackle the challenges of increasing rates of obesity. We are working closely with local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector to tackle this complex issue."