Researchers are urging pregnant women to be weary of fish during their pregnancy, as it could increase their child's chances of becoming obese, according to CNN.
There are many myths out there about what women should and shouldn't eat during pregnancy, and fish is on the warning list. Many people believe that fish high in mercury can be harmful, but now scientists are warning that fish in general may be a no-go for pregnant women.
The study took women from 11 countries and found that when women had a higher level of fish consumption, eating fish at least three times per week, their child was more likely to suffer from childhood obesity. The study also found that fish was link to rapid growth of children during the first two years of life, according to the LA Times.
The study claims that one explanation could be the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish. The theory is that the Omega-3s could be affecting the fetal stem, altering how it deals with fat cells. Another explanation is that there are pollutants in the fish that are causing the effects, but this is mostly speculative.
The study has been published by JAMA Pediatrics.
