Study finds those born via C-section are more apt to be obese later in life

The struggle to keep excess weight at bay is known by many, but one group in particular may be more vulnerable to carrying extra pounds, notes The Telegraph.

A recent study by Harvard University researchers shows a connection between those born via C-section and greater instances of obesity later in life.The team found that babies who entered the world by cesarean section were 15% more likely to be affected by obesity as adults than those who were born vaginally.

In cases where the C-section was not medically necessary, that number jumped as high as 30% in some age groups. It's believed the cause is somehow linked to the lack of contact with beneficial bacteria in the birth canal.

Audrey Gaskins, one of the researchers, said, "Children born via C-section harbour less diverse gut bacteria," the effects of which he compares to having, "...a slower metabolism." Data for the research was gathered from tens of thousands of records accumulated by both the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) and the Nurses' Health Study 2.

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