A study by The University of Texas at Austin, published in the journal Obesity, suggests that rapid weight gain during the first and final months of pregnancy may influence the development of excess fat tissue in female children. Researchers tracked over 300 pregnant women and their children, observing that daughters of mothers who gained weight quickly during these periods had higher body mass index (BMI), larger waist circumferences, and increased body fat percentages between ages 5 and 14. No similar patterns were observed in male children. The study highlights potential sex differences in how prenatal factors affect child growth and development. Read the full article here.