Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1
05:44

Concurrent Collection of Fetal Murine Brain and Serum to Assess Effects of Maternal Diet on Nutrition and Neurodevelopment in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Published on: May 17, 2024

Maternal smoking during pregnancy in relation to child overweight: follow-up to age 8 years

Aimin Chen1, Michael L Pennell, Mark A Klebanoff

  • 1Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. chen17@niehs.nih.gov

International Journal of Epidemiology
|November 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of childhood overweight. This association is detectable before age 8, impacting children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Existing research suggests a link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring overweight.
  • The magnitude and age of onset for this association remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring weight, height, and body mass index (BMI).
  • To determine the age at which this association becomes detectable.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of prospective data from 34,866 children in the US Collaborative Perinatal Project.
  • Examination of maternal pregnancy smoking in relation to offspring anthropometric measurements at ages 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 years.

Main Results:

  • Offspring of smokers exhibited lower birth weight, followed by rapid weight gain.
  • Children of smokers showed consistently decreased height and an increased risk of overweight, particularly girls.
  • At age 7, the odds of being in the 85th percentile for BMI were higher in children of mothers who smoked heavily during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with a modest increase in the risk of childhood overweight.
  • This increased risk is evident before the age of 8 years.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV01:26

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.