Children born to mothers with diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing heart health issues early in life.

New research indicates that children whose mothers experienced complications such as diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to develop conditions like overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar by the age of 12, compared with those whose mothers had healthy pregnancies. The study, tracking over 3,300 mother-and-child pairs internationally for more than a decade, supports the hypothesis that many chronic conditions may begin with fetal adaptations in the uterus and emphasizes the need for preventative care.