Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...

Obesity

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...

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

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...

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

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...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

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,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Human plasma proteomic profile of clonal hematopoiesis.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Physical Activity and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.

Circulation·2025

Same author

Genome-wide association study and multi-ancestry meta-analysis identify common variants associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2025

Same author

Identifying and characterizing shared and ethnic background site-specific dietary patterns in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Nutrition journal·2025

Same author

United States Pooled Cohort Cardiovascular Disease Risk Scores in Adults With Diabetes Mellitus.

JACC. Advances·2025

Same author

Abdominal Compared With Coronary Artery Calcification and Incident Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Black Adults.

Circulation. Cardiovascular imaging·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

Published on: September 27, 2017

Prepregnancy obesity as a risk factor for structural birth defects.

D Kim Waller¹, Gary M Shaw, Sonja A Rasmussen

¹School of Public Health, The University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. kim.waller@uth.tmc.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

|August 8, 2007

Summary

Maternal obesity is linked to an increased risk of several birth defects, including spina bifida and heart defects. However, obesity was associated with a lower risk of gastroschisis in newborns.

More Related Videos

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

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

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

A Primary Human Trophoblast Model to Study the Effect of Inflammation Associated with Maternal Obesity on Regulation of Autophagy in the Placenta

Published on: September 27, 2017

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

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

Area of Science:

Reproductive Health
Pediatrics
Genetics

Background:

Maternal pre-pregnancy weight status is a critical factor in fetal development.
Obesity rates have been rising globally, necessitating research into its impact on birth outcomes.
Understanding the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and structural birth defects is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between maternal obesity, overweight, and underweight status and 16 categories of structural birth defects.
To quantify the risk of specific birth defects in relation to maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.

Main Methods:

A multisite, case-control study involving mothers enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2002).
Exclusion criteria included single-gene disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, and pre-existing diabetes in mothers.
Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was determined using self-reported height and weight.

Main Results:

Maternal obesity was significantly associated with an increased risk of spina bifida, heart defects, anorectal atresia, hypospadias, limb reduction defects, diaphragmatic hernia, and omphalocele (ORs 1.33-2.10).
A significant inverse association was observed between maternal obesity and gastroschisis (OR < 1).

Conclusions:

This population-based study provides evidence for a weak to moderate positive association between maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and seven categories of structural birth defects.
A strong inverse association was found between maternal obesity and gastroschisis.
The underlying mechanisms remain unclear but may involve factors like undiagnosed diabetes.