Obese women more likely to have babies with serious birth defects, says study

Increased risk of health problems including heart defects, digestive anomalies and malformations of genitals or limbs revealed by major study

Women who are obese when they conceive are more likely to have a baby with serious birth defects, a major study has found.

The research revealed a sliding scale of risk for health problems including congenital heart defects, anomalies of the digestive system and malformations of genital organs or limbs.