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Early intrauterine exposure to tobacco-inhaled products and obesity

A M Toschke1, S M Montgomery, U Pfeiffer

  • 1Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Social Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany. michael.toschke@LRZ.uni-muenchen.de

American Journal of Epidemiology
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases childhood obesity risk, particularly in the first trimester. Quitting smoking before conception is crucial for preventing offspring obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to adverse offspring health outcomes, including obesity.
  • The specific impact of smoking during different pregnancy stages requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between maternal smoking in the first trimester versus throughout pregnancy and childhood obesity.
  • To determine if early pregnancy smoking is a critical period for obesity development.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 4,974 German children aged 5-6 years was analyzed.
  • Obesity was defined using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutpoints for body mass index (BMI).
  • Statistical analyses included unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios to compare obesity prevalence based on maternal smoking status.

Main Results:

  • Obesity prevalence was higher in children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (4.5%-5.9%) compared to never-smokers (1.9%).
  • Adjusted odds ratios indicated a significant risk of childhood obesity associated with maternal smoking in the first trimester (2.22) and throughout pregnancy (1.70).
  • No statistically significant difference in obesity risk was found between smoking in the first trimester versus throughout pregnancy when modeled together.

Conclusions:

  • Intrauterine tobacco exposure during the first trimester is a significant factor in childhood obesity risk.
  • The additional risk associated with smoking throughout pregnancy may be influenced by sociodemographic confounders.
  • Encouraging smoking cessation prior to conception is vital for preventing childhood obesity.

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