Professor Mark Hanson, pioneer of the research from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), showed that a woman's diet can have a profound effect on her child's heart health.
Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director for the BHF, said: "This study is important because it strengthens the evidence that eating a healthy balanced diet during pregnancy directly reduces the risk that your child will grow up to become overweight or obese."
Professor Pearson was keen to stress that ensuring a child eats a healthy diet and takes regular exercise are also important ways to protect their health.
The BHF recommends a balanced diet, which it states should be made up mainly of fruit and vegetables, starchy foods and protein.
People should aim to consume a minimum of five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, according to the BHF, in order to cut the risk of heart disease.
