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OBESE mothers are being given diabetes pills to reduce the chance of them having a fat baby. In a world first trial, 400 overweight pregnant women in the UK and Scotland will be prescribed metformin - a drug that has been used for decades to treat diabetes and is cleared for pregnancy.

The original article can be found at: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/child-obesity-treated-in-the-womb/story-e6freoox-1226316286800

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This story looks at the potential use of the weight-loss pill Metformin in obese, non-diabetic pregnant women. Metformin is not standard treatment for diabetes in pregnancy in many parts of the world, including Australia and the USA. In the UK, while NICE recommends its use, the Specialist Practice Committee does not.

The brief story is very light on expert opinion and only provides a puritanical objection to making it too easy for obese mums by popping a pill. The genuine concerns not mentioned include the risks of making babies too small, and inducing lactic acidosis in small, premature or sick babies

One positive aspect of the story was the link to the NIH trial database.

And please name those nameless health experts!

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