Perinatal programming of obesity
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. rsimmons@mail.med.upenn.edu
Insights
Maternal health during pregnancy, including diabetes and nutrition, impacts offspring obesity risk. Both high and low birth weight are linked to increased childhood and adult obesity rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Obesity prevalence is increasing globally.
- Birth weight is a potential indicator of the intrauterine environment and its effect on long-term health.
- Maternal conditions like diabetes during pregnancy are associated with increased offspring obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human and animal studies examining the relationship between fetal exposures and later obesity.
- To explore how variations in birth weight correlate with obesity development throughout life.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological and experimental studies.
- Analysis of human and animal data on fetal development and subsequent obesity.
Main Results:
- Studies show a direct correlation between birth weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) in childhood and adulthood.
- Maternal diabetes during pregnancy is linked to higher rates of obesity in offspring.
- Low birth weight is associated with increased central adiposity later in life.
Conclusions:
- Both nutrient excess and deficiency during fetal development can predispose individuals to obesity.
- Birth weight serves as a critical marker for predicting future obesity risk.
- Understanding fetal influences is key to developing strategies for obesity prevention.
Abstract:
Obesity is a growing threat worldwide, and the prevalence has risen dramatically over the last decade. A number of epidemiological studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between birth weight and BMI in childhood and in adult life. A number of factors influence the development of childhood and adult obesity and birth weight as a proxy for the intrauterine environment may be one of the many. For example, a number of investigators have reported a significant increase in the rates of obesity in children, adolescents, and adults whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy. A large number of studies have also linked low birth weight to the later development of central adiposity. Thus, both excess and reduced nutrient availability during fetal development can lead to the later development of obesity. This review summarizes both human and animal studies relating fetal exposures to later obesity.
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