Babies born by cesarean section are at a higher risk of obesity than those who are born naturally, says a study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”. This happens because there is no contact with the “good” bacteria.
The epidemic of obesity has a new possible cause: the high rate of births by C-section. Babies born by caesarean section are more prone to obesity than those born naturally. Low immunity would be to blame, for the baby not coming into contact with the useful bacteria in the mother’s vagina, which play an important role in boosting metabolism.
There is yet another link. Studies have shown that babies whose mothers were obese, are in turn, at a higher risk of obesity. On the other hand, obesity is the one that sends most women on the operating table when giving birth.
The study included 2,000 people aged between 23 and 25 years. 15% of the volunteers who were born by cesarean section are obese, compared with 10% of those born naturally.
Researchers took into consideration several risk factors: higher weight at birth, level of education (highly educated women are choosing C-section). Even taking into account these factors, the risk of obesity in adulthood is 58% higher in children born by Cesarean section.