Prenatal stress exposure related to maternal bereavement and risk of childhood overweight

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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

Jiong Li1, Jørn Olsen, Mogens Vestergaard

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. jl@soci.au.dk

Plos One
|August 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Maternal bereavement during pregnancy may increase childhood overweight risk. This study found a higher prevalence of overweight in children whose mothers experienced severe stress before or during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Prenatal stress is a potential risk factor for later-life obesity.
  • Maternal bereavement during pregnancy is a significant stressor.
  • The association between prenatal stress and offspring overweight requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal stress from maternal bereavement and the risk of overweight in school-aged offspring.
  • To examine if maternal loss during pregnancy impacts child's body mass index (BMI) later in life.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study of 65,212 children born in Denmark (1970-1989).
  • Identified 459 children exposed to prenatal stress due to maternal bereavement within one year before pregnancy or during pregnancy.
  • Compared the prevalence of overweight in exposed versus unexposed children during school age health examinations (7-13 years).

Main Results:

  • Children exposed to prenatal stress showed a higher prevalence of overweight, particularly from age 10 onwards.
  • Adjusted odds ratio (OR) for overweight at age 12 was 1.68 (95% CI 1.08-2.61).
  • The highest ORs for overweight were observed when maternal bereavement occurred 6 to 0 months before pregnancy.

Conclusions:

  • Severe pre-pregnancy stress, specifically maternal bereavement, is linked to an increased risk of overweight in offspring during childhood.
  • These findings highlight the long-term impact of prenatal stress on child's metabolic health.
  • Further research into the mechanisms linking prenatal stress and childhood obesity is warranted.
Abstract

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