Large meta-analysis out of Scottland finds that C-S versus vaginal delivery reduces urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, but is associated with an increased obesity risk of child.
Cesarean delivery and lack of breast feeding significantly alter gut flora. This has potential significant metabolic consequences--diabetes, asthma, obesity...The urge to deliver at convenient times may lay the foundation for our metabolic crisis in the US.
Individuals with obesity and type II Diabetes been found to have significantly different gut bacteria populations compared to healthy individuals. This is not new information. The firmicutes:bacteroidetes ratio has been long known to be elevated in obese individuals vs those that are lean. The question here is cause and effect. Is the change in the bacterial population leading to obesity and type II diabetes? Or is diabetes and obesity leading to changes in the bacterial population? A heavy-laden carb diet is know to lead to a change to a more unhealthy gut bacterial population--maybe it is just a product of diet? Maybe it is effected by vaginal delivery vs cesarean delivery? Maybe breast feeding plays a role. Maybe, all the above is required.
The point is that the cause of obesity and type II diabetes may have its origins deep, deep in the...well you know. http://ow.ly/yqDML