Diet risk to babies of teen mothers

07 May 2003

Many pregnant teenagers are putting their babies' health at risk because they cannot afford an adequate diet, a joint report by the Maternity Alliance and the Food Commission has claimed. The report, Good Enough to Eat?, published last week, found that two-thirds of pregnant teenagers living away from their family have a food budget of less than Pounds 20.25 per week - the estimated cost of a 'modest but adequate' diet - and that as money runs out they tend to eat less and fill up on cheap, unhealthy foods.

The report, Good Enough to Eat?, published last week, found that two-thirds of pregnant teenagers living away from their family have a food budget of less than 20.25 per week - the estimated cost of a 'modest but adequate' diet - and that as money runs out they tend to eat less and fill up on cheap, unhealthy foods.

Maternity Alliance director Christine Gowridge said, 'Pregnant teenagers receive significantly less benefits than mothers over the age of 25, yet their dietary needs, and the needs of their growing babies, are the same, if not more. How can we expect teenage mothers to be able to eat healthily on less than 3 per day for food?'

Food Commission director Tim Lobstein added, 'Women on a poor diet during pregnancy are more likely to have low birthweight babies. That increases their baby's risk of poor health during childhood and during their adult life.

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