According to new figures, as many as 1,403 newborns have been classed as obese in the UK since 2011.
9lb 15oz or more is classed as obese and nearly 400 babies have been born in the past four years tipping this weight.
Toddlers are also being hospitalised for being obese, with 28 two-year-olds and 33 three-year-olds admitted since 2011.
Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum says that some mothers may suffer from medical conditions, but most just over eat.
He said: ‘Quite simply, the number of pregnant women who are obese at the start is increasing. It is thought that 82 per cent of children who are obese will continue to be overweight. As they have the same kind of nutrition as their parents there is a continuous upwards spiral.’
Mr Fry also suggested that the number of women having cesareans was increasing due to the increasing size of their babies.
A Royal College of Midwives spokesman said: ‘It starts pre-conceptually. If a woman is trying to get pregnant then she should already be eating healthily and not drinking or smoking.
‘It is a common myth that the woman should eat for two. Really, she should be just taking in lots of vegetables and a balanced diet. Long walks and gentle jogs can also help.’
Im curious if they simply use weight to determine obesity at birth. I was not overweight during pregnancy and my boy was 10 pound 6. He is now 2 and hes tall and lanky and a very healthy weight. He was just a big bubba and always been very tall. I dont think its fair to say they are over a certain weight so they r obese and its the mothers fault. Cant put everyone in the same basket without looking deeper
I agree Kerri my baby was 10 pounds and I was not overweight in fact I lost weight I was all belly my baby was tall and chubby but far from obese she is now a very active healthy lean 15month old with a very nutritious diet….
I had a 10 lb baby and I was not overweight in fact I lost weight due to being so sick he is now a healthy active 4yr old with a balanced diet.
Yeah, I’d like to know how they’re judging this my partner was a 10pound baby and is now short and lanky. While siblings who were born smaller have issues with weight in their adult life. I personally was overweight while pregnant with both my children bot were born around 8 pound if memory serves me right both have continued to be a healthy weight and the eldest is four now. My son was on the heavy end from two month to six and then got gastro as well as another bug ended up in hospital and lost all the “extra” weight so thank goodness it was there.