Junk Food Linked to Preterm Birth Risk

A new study has found that women who eat junk food often are 50 percent more likely to deliver a preterm baby than women on a healthy diet.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute, found that woman's diet before pregnancy also affects the health of future offspring.

The study was based on data from 309 women. Researchers found that women who ate healthy-balanced diet with adequate amounts of proteins, fruits and vegetables had lower risk of delivering a preterm baby.

"On the other hand, women who consumed mainly discretionary foods - such as takeaway, potato chips, cakes, biscuits and other food items high in saturated fat and sugar - were more likely to have premature babies," said  Dr Jessica Grieger, Posdoctoral Research Fellow at the Robinson Research Institute, based at the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Grieger is the lead author of the study.

Health experts advise women to lose weight before trying to conceive. Being overweight increases a woman's risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, miscarriage and stillbirth, Medline Plus says.

"Diet is an important risk factor that can be modified. It is never too late to make a positive change. We hope our work will help promote a healthy diet before and during pregnancy. This will help to reduce the number of neonatal deaths and improve the overall health of children," Grieger said in a news release.

A preterm baby is a baby born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Each year, some 500,000 babies are born preterm in the U.S., which is about 1 of every 8 infants born in the country. These babies weigh much less than full-term babies and have poorly developed organs. Several premature babies suffer from long-term health complications.

The study is published in the Journal of Nutrition.