Children with fat mothers 'are a third more likely to die before 55' Fatter women's children also have a 29% higher chance of being admitted to hospital for heart attacks, angina and strokes Being overweight in pregnancy may cause permanent changes in the unborn child's appetite control and energy metabolism This could lead to a greater risk of heart problems in later life Children born to obese mothers are a third more likely to die before the age of 55 than those of normal weight women, research shows. Fatter women's children also have a 29 per cent higher chance of being admitted to hospital for heart attacks, angina and strokes. Earlier studies found that babies born to overweight mothers are at greater risk of heart problems, diabetes and obesity, but the new research shows they are also more likely to die young. A healthy pregnancy is best: The results showed that children were 35 per cent more likely to have suffered an early death by the age of 55 if their mother had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over in pregnancy One theory is that being overweight in pregnancy may cause permanent changes in appetite control and energy metabolism in the unborn child, leading to a greater risk of heart problems in later life. Experts from the universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh studied the progress of nearly 38,000 babies born in Scotland between 1950 and 1976. The mothers" weights were recorded during their first antenatal appointments and researchers checked death records for their children. The results showed that children were 35 per cent more likely to have suffered an early death by the age of 55 if their mother had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over in pregnancy. BMI is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in metres. For example, an adult who weighs 70kg and whose height is 1.75m will have a BMI of 22.9. People with a BMI of 18.5 to 25 are classed as being of normal weight, 25-30 is overweight and over 30 is obese. The average person over the age of 50 is classed as overweight. Men and women over 50 have an average Body Mass Index (BMI) above 25, according to data from Saga Health Insurance. Figures from 11,000 customers show the average man is 5ft 9in and weighs 13st 7lb - which means they have a BMI of 27.9. The average woman questioned by the insurer is 5ft 4in and weighs around 11st, giving her a BMI of 26.4, but only half of those surveyed said they should lose weight. "Carrying those extra pounds can put people at risk of developing a range of health problems - especially in later life," said Paul Green, director of communications at Saga. Carrying a bit more weight could explain why fixing hips and knee joints are among the most frequent claims on Saga's health insurance. Among the 28,540 mothers in the study, 21 per cent were overweight and four per cent were obese. Among the 37,709 children, there were 6,551 deaths from any cause, with the leading cause of death being heart disease (24 per cent of deaths in men and 13 per cent in women). Cancer accounted for a quarter of deaths in men and two in five women. The increased rates of death and ill-health held true even after other factors were taken into account, such as the mother's age, socio-economic status and the child's sex. Writing online in the British Medical Journal, the experts said the results were a major public health concern because in Britain today around 20 per cent of all women of childbearing age are obese, while around a third are overweight. Dr Sohinee Bhattacharya, of the University of Aberdeen, said: "We need to find out how to help young women and their children control their weight better so that chronic disease risk is not transmitted from generation to generation." Professor Rebecca Reynolds, of the Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: "As obesity among pregnant women is rising, along with levels of obesity in the general population, our findings are of major public health concern." "This research shows the importance of women starting their pregnancy at a normal weight," added Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives. Doireann Maddock, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the study, said: "We know that a mother's health in pregnancy can affect the health of their unborn baby. But this study suggests an association between a mother's weight in pregnancy and her child's risk of dying prematurely in adulthood.