Researchers at the University of California found that obese women and those with type 2 diabetes have an increased chance of having a child with autism or other mental and/or physical disabilities. They discovered that high glucose levels in these mothers affect brain development in the fetus. The researchers looked at 1,000 children and mothers in California and found that 9.3% of children whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy were born with autism, and another 11% showed signs of other disabilities. Over 20% of children with autism or other disabilities had obese mothers.

1. Obesity and
Diabetes in
Mothers Linked to
Child Disorders
Chelsea Lashua
Period 1 Computer Literacy
Mrs.Herbison

2. About the Project
 The children in the study were aged between 2 through
5 and were born between the years 2003 and 2010
 Some of these mothers already had diabetes before
pregnancy, others formed it during (this did not have
effect on the result)

3. Researchers at the
University of
California…
 Found that obese woman and those with type 2
diabetes have an increased chance of having a
child with autism or other mental and/or
physical disabilities
 Discovered this is because of the high glucose
levels in the woman affect brain development in
the fetus

4. The Researchers
Looked at 1,000
Children and Mothers
(in California)
 For the children whose mothers had type 2 diabetes during
their pregnancy, 9.3% of them were born with autism
 Another 11% of the children in that group showed signs of
developing another disability (not autism)
 Over 20% of these children who had autism or another
disability had a mother who was obese
 This was nearly twice as high; 6.4% of children with mental
or physical disabilities are born to women with a normal
weight and no diabetes

5. Bibliography
 "Obesity and Diabetes Link to Child
Disorders." BBC News. BBC, 04 Sept.
2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-
17625262>.