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Is maternal diabetes a risk factor for childhood obesity?

Shobha H Mehta1, Michael Kruger, Robert J Sokol

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA. smehta3@hfhs.org

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|September 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Maternal diabetes during pregnancy is linked to childhood obesity in African-American children. Controlling gestational diabetes and birth weight may prevent childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects a significant portion of pregnancies.
  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern, particularly in urban, minority populations.
  • Maternal health during pregnancy can have long-term effects on child development and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between diabetes during pregnancy and the risk of childhood obesity.
  • To examine this relationship within an inner-city, predominantly African-American population.
  • To identify potential mediating factors in the link between maternal diabetes and childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of mothers and their children aged 2-5 years was studied.
  • Childhood obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI) categories.
  • Maternal diabetes status and birth weight percentiles were key independent variables, with logistic regression used for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Children born to mothers with diabetes during pregnancy had a higher likelihood of obesity (p=0.004).
  • Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and large-for-gestational age (LGA) were significant predictors of childhood obesity.
  • The association between maternal diabetes and childhood obesity was no longer significant when LGA was included in the model.

Conclusions:

  • Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with childhood obesity in this specific population.
  • Effective management of gestational diabetes to prevent macrosomia may be crucial for preventing childhood obesity.
  • Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and fetal growth (LGA) are important factors influencing childhood obesity risk.
Abstract

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