Is There A Relationship Between C-Sections And The Risk of Babies Childhood Obesity?

A recent study indicates that a baby who is born via a Caesarean is two times more likely to suffer from obesity by the time they are three years of age as an infant who is born vaginally.

Here in the US, about one third of babies are born by way of a C-section.  Likewise, about one third of US kids are considered obese or overweight.



Dr. Susanna Huh, who authored the study, works at the Boston Children's Hospital as director of the growth and nutrition program.  She expressed that if a woman wished to schedule a C-section for non-medical reasons, she should be informed of the possible risk of childhood obesity.

Over 1250 mothers and babies were included in this study.  Each mother opted into the research prior to reaching 22 weeks along in their pregnancy.  The information used in the study was gathered between 1999 and 2002.  One quarter of the babies in the study required C-sections for various reasons, while the other 75 percent had vaginal births.

Each baby was measured immediately at birth, and was remeasured at 6 months old and once more when they reached their 3rd birthday.

Babies born via C-section were not significantly heavier than babies born vaginally.  However, when measured at age 3, almost 16 percent of the children who were born via a C-section had reached a weight within the obesity range, while less than 8 percent of the children who were born vaginally were considered obese when measured at age 3.  Almost 20 percent of the toddlers who were born via C-section were considered overweight, and under 17 percent of those born vaginally were considered overweight.

Skinfold thickness testing to measure body fat of all subjects at the age of 3 also showed that those who had been delivered via C-section had higher skinfold thickness.

Researchers did compensate for other environmental factors that could have increased risk factor obesity in children, such as having a mother who is overweight, or having a high birth rate, but the findings were firm.

It is not yet understood why babies who are born through a C-section are at a higher risk for childhood obesity.  Another thing to note is that C-sections also increase the likelihood that a baby will have allergies or childhood asthma.

Dr. Huh expressed that researchers believe there may be difference in the amount and type of bacteria contained in the cut when babies are born various ways.  These bacteria may be responsible for variations in resistance to insulin, and may boost inflammation, and body fat.

It is also possible that hormones that are released while a woman is going through labor may have an impact on obesity later in life.

Huh expressed the need for further research to prove their findings, and admitted the need for a thorough exploration to pinpoint the mechanism at work.

This research does not definitively show that C-sections are responsible for childhood obesity, so women who require C-sections for medical reasons should not be afraid, according to one expert.

Many women require C-sections for medical reasons.  Babies who present in breach position, or a rare position like footling breach where one or both feet are downwards towards the cervix at labor may need to be delivered via C-section.  If labor does not progress or if a baby or mother is in distress, a C-section is the proper choice.  In these types of cases, one cannot worry about a risk of the baby being obese in the future, and must instead of preserving the life of the mother and child.

Archives of Disease in Childhood will be publishing this report on May 24, in its online journal.

The researchers that conducted this study noted that somewhere between 4 and 18 percent of C-sections are at the request of the mother.

Staten Island University Hospital's Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Mitchell Mainman spoke of the risk of planned C-sections for convenience rather than medical necessity:

"The risks to the mother are enormous, if not with the first, then with the repeat surgeries." He continued, cautioning that "The risk of catastrophic complications from repeat surgery is really, really, serious."

Dr. Maiman indicated that the spike in the number of C-sections in the US is not acceptable, and spoke of women who successfully delivered babies vaginally after previously having a C-section.

Dr. Maiman also stated that babies born via C-section are much more likely to need care in a NICU or other intensive care facility, and that if C-sections do indeed cause babies to grow up to be overweight or obese children, childhood obesity rates may double.