According to a study carried out by Central South University in China, obese mothers were 47 per cent more likely to have children with the condition.
Researchers analysed the findings of multiple studies exploring the link between obesity during pregnancy and autism, using data from 200,000 people worldwide.
One theory is that high blood sugar levels in pregnant women could lead to higher than average levels in the child, which may affect the development of the brain and central nervous system.
The results have been published in the latest issue of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
It is estimated that one in 100 children has autism in the UK. The condition affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, the people around them.
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