First-Born Children Have Higher Risk of Diabetes
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FOCUS ON HEALTH - Taking folic acid before pregnancy and through the first several weeks of pregnancy may help reduce the risk of autism in children.
That's according to a new study where researchers looked at data from 85,000 pregnancies.
They found women who took the supplement four weeks before pregnancy and through the eighth week of pregnancy were 39 percent less likely to have children with autism.
This marks one of the first tangible things a woman can do to reduce her child's risk of developing the disorder.
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Living in an area with a lot of outdoor fast-food ads may be linked to weight gain.
For the study, researchers examined census information from two densely populated areas.
Then, they compared the information to the health of 2,600 adults living in those areas.
They found an increased likelihood of obesity in neighborhoods with the most outdoor fast food ads.
Researchers didn't say the ads cause weight gain, but they did note a modest increased likelihood of obesity.
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First-born children may be at a greater risk for diabetes or high blood pressure.
Researchers say these children have reduced insulin sensitivity and higher daytime blood pressure.
The study also showed first-borns were typically taller and thinner than their younger siblings.
Researchers explained that changes happen in the uterus after a first pregnancy and that could explain the metabolic differences in younger siblings.
