When expectant mothers have elevated blood pressure during pregnancy it may raise their children s risk of developing childhood obesity according to a study published September 27 2017 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism. Among women who were hypertensive during the second trimester their children were 49 more likely to be overweight or obese than children of mothers who had lower blood pressure. While children of women with high blood pressure during the third trimester were 14 more likely to be overweight or obese.