High-Fat Diet in Pregnancy Linked to Brain Inflammation in Offspring, Animal Study Suggests

Another possible way for creative fat people to harm their kids.

A high-fat diet in pregnant rats is linked to irreversible negative brain changes in offspring, according to research presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 49th Annual Meeting.

"This is a first look at the effects of mothers' obesity on the fetal brain," said Staci Bilbo, PhD, lead author of the study and assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

"Previous research has shown a link between obesity and inflammation in the body — outside of the brain — but little is known about whether obesity in a pregnant mother can affect the way the brain develops in her offspring."

Kudos, fatsos.