Cases of prolonged and accelerated weight gain have been reported in babies with intrauterine exposure to COVID-19, explains one study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, last March 29.
The research notes that babies born to mothers who had contracted the virus during pregnancy “exhibited differential weight and BMI trajectories.” Lindsay Forumsparticipate in the research and member of the Massachusetts General Hospital (United States)added “that children exposed in utero to COVID-19 Maternal babies have an altered growth pattern in the first years of life that can increase their risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease over time.
Although the study in question took into account more than 150 babies born in this context, Andrea G. Edlowanother of the researchers, assured that “larger studies with a longer duration of follow-up are still needed.”
In comparison, babies whose mothers suffered from Covid-19 during pregnancy had greater weight gain in the first year than those born to mothers who had not become ill. This weight gain could, according to the study, be associated with an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Andrea G. Edlowsaid in this regard: “Our findings underscore the importance of long-term follow-up of infants exposed in utero to maternal infection with COVID-19as well as the widespread application of prevention strategies for this disease among pregnant women”.
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