Women can help prevent their children from becoming obese by exercising during pregnancy, according to a study

Research has shown that women can protect their baby from obesity before birth by exercising during pregnancy.

The study – the first to encourage the physical exercise of overweight pregnant women – found that staying fit helped improve the metabolic health of the child.

American researchers tested the theory on mice and found that young people were less likely to gain weight throughout adolescence if their mother was exercising regularly during pregnancy.

At weaning, babies of active mothers had increased protein levels related to fat conversion to heat, and after eight weeks they had gained less weight. [File photo]

The author of the study, Jun Seok Son, of Washington State University, said, "Our data suggest that lack of physical activity in healthy women during pregnancy can predispose their children to obesity. "

Experts examined mouse babies having performed one hour of low intensity daily exercise compared to the offspring of mice that had not evolved.

At weaning, babies of active mothers had increased protein levels related to the conversion of fat to heat and, after eight weeks, they gained less weight.

The study – the first to encourage the physical exercise of overweight pregnant women – found that staying fit helped improve the child's metabolic health. [File photo]