Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 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

Effect of maternal prenatal smoking on infant growth and development of obesity

N A Sowan1, M L Stember

  • 1N ancy S owan is on the faculty in the School of Nursing at The University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont. Her clinical background is in community and public health nursing.

The Journal of Perinatal Education
|February 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Infants exposed to smoking during pregnancy are at higher risk for obesity. Prenatal smoke exposure leads to continued catch-up growth, increasing obesity likelihood between 6 and 14 months.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Maternal Health
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to lower birth weight in infants.
  • Existing research on accelerated infant growth post-prenatal smoke exposure shows inconsistent results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of prenatal smoke exposure on the development of infant obesity.
  • To analyze catch-up growth patterns in infants exposed to maternal smoking.

Main Methods:

  • Descriptive study involving 630 infants.
  • Tracking growth and obesity risk from 6 to 14 months of age.

Main Results:

  • Infants exposed to prenatal smoke exhibited continued catch-up growth.
  • Smoke-exposed infants showed a higher likelihood of obesity between 6 and 14 months compared to non-exposed infants.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal prenatal smoking increases the risk of early childhood obesity.
  • Interventions to support smoking cessation in pregnant mothers are crucial.

More Related Videos

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes08:30

Intraperitoneal Glucose Tolerance Test, Measurement of Lung Function, and Fixation of the Lung to Study the Impact of Obesity and Impaired Metabolism on Pulmonary Outcomes

Published on: March 15, 2018

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection06:11

Monitoring Blood Glucose in Mouse Offspring After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Published on: May 17, 2024

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,...
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...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
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...