Craving for junk food 'inherited'

Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy may be condemning their children to crave the same diet, according to animal tests.

Royal Veterinary College researchers found that when pregnant rats were fed a diet of biscuits, crisps and sweets, their babies ate more unhealthy food.

They said the British Journal of Nutrition study showed the rats' behaviour was "programmed" in the womb.