C-Section Delivery Increases Obesity Risks by 26 Percent in Children: Study

Cesarean section births increase risk of obesity among children during their adulthood, according to a study.

Researchers from the Imperial College of London reviewed 15 studies to identify links between modes of delivery and long-term health effects and body mass index of children during the later years. The study involved comparing data of nearly 35,000 participants from 10 different countries who were born from either C-section procedures or vaginal delivery.

The analysis revealed those who were born by C- sections were 26 percent likely to be obese compared to those born by vaginal delivery.

Neena Modi, study author and professor from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London said in a new release, "There are good reasons why C-section may be the best option for many mothers and their babies, and C-sections can on occasion be life-saving. However, we need to understand the long-term outcomes in order to provide the best advice to women who are considering cesarean delivery."

 According to the study, in England C-section births have almost doubled since 1990. The World Health Organization recommends that C-section rates must not increase beyond 15 percent. A similar trend was seen in countries like China and Brazil that reported having 60 and 47  percent C-section rates, respectively.

The research warns of the long term health implications of C-sections that include  20 percent increased chances of asthma and type-1 diabetes, 23 to 32 percent increased odds for atopic disorders and extreme sensitivity to allergens.

Data from past studies conducted in North America and Brazil revealed chances of obesity among children born from C-sections were 40 and 50 percent respectively.

Prof Modi said, "This study shows that babies born by C-section are more likely to be overweight or obese later in life. We now need to determine whether this is the result of the C-section, or if other reasons explain the association."

The incidence of obesity among children and adults has increased worldwide in the last twenty years and about one-third of the U.S. women opt for C-section births. C-section must be considered only in emergency cases to save life of mother and child. The authors warn against the procedure for convenience.

The study is published in the journal PLoS ONE.