Pregnant women say images of celebrity mothers who appear to “snap” back into shape after birth are putting increasing pressure on ordinary mothers to follow suit, according to a survey by Netmums.

The survey reveals six out of 10 mothers feel pressurised to lose weight by the celebrity culture. Such pressure comes at a time when maternal obesity rates are increasing.

Mothers have called for NHS-funded antenatal classes to address the imbalance between fact and fiction of weight management.

But the Royal College of Midwives has warned overstretched midwives often don’t have time to provide weight management and healthy eating advice.

Earlier this year, television presenter Denise van Outen was pictured looking toned and slim just two weeks after giving birth to her daughter Betsy.

Over the past few years, Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie have also been photographed just weeks after giving birth, having lost all of their baby weight.

Sally Russell, a co-founder of Netmums.com, which carried out the survey, said: “Many women worry about their weight even when they are not pregnant.

Read the full story on Wales Online.