Junk food before falling pregnant raises premature birth risk: study

May 26: A junk food diet high in fat, sugar and takeaway foods before conceiving a child is linked to a 50 increased risk of giving birth prematurely, a study has found for the first time.

Women were warned that they need to change unhealthy habits before they get pregnant in order to give their child the best start.

Ladies who are planning a pregnancy are told to take folic acid to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and to give up or cut down on alcohol.

It is known that a poor diet in pregnancy leads to poorer outcomes for the mother and baby but researchers in Australia have now found that diet before conception plays a part too.

A team at University of Adelaide research found a diet high in sugar, fat and takeaways was linked with a 50 per cent increase risk of giving birth before 37 weeks gestation when compared with a diet high in meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.