[Impacts of gestational weight gain on offspring weight and obesity: a 2-year follow up study]
Zhen-Zhen Liang1, Peng Zhu, Rong Gao
1Department of Maternal and Child Health Care, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Insights
Excessive gestational weight gain increases children's obesity risk up to 12 months. This impact on offspring weight temporarily disappears during their second year of life.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Context:
- Maternal health during pregnancy significantly influences offspring's long-term health outcomes.
- Understanding the relationship between gestational weight gain and childhood obesity is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose:
- To investigate the association between maternal gestational weight gain and offspring weight and obesity from birth to 24 months.
- To identify critical periods where maternal weight gain impacts child development.
Summary:
- This study analyzed data from 317 pregnant women and their offspring from birth to 24 months.
- Excessive gestational weight gain was linked to a higher risk of childhood obesity at 6 and 9 months.
- Gestational weight gain correlated with offspring weight Z-scores from birth to 12 months, with the effect diminishing by 18-24 months.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring and managing gestational weight gain to mitigate childhood obesity risks.
- This research provides evidence for targeted interventions during pregnancy and early childhood to promote healthier growth trajectories.
Objective:
To evaluate the impacts of maternal weight gain during pregnancy on offspring weight and obesity from birth to 24 months of age.
Methods:
The information on maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain and demographic characteristics were collected from 317 pregnant women. The information on offspring weight, BMI and breastfeeding data was obtained from various follow-up examinations from 0 to 24 months of age.
Results:
The logistic regression analysis showed that excessive gestational weight gain resulted in an increased risk of obesity in children at age of 6 months (adjusted RR=3.56, 95% CI:1.31-8.35) and 9 months (adjusted RR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.04-3.28) after adjustment for potential confounding factors. The linear regression model showed that there were significant correlations between gestational weight gain and Z score of weight in offsprings at birth (β=0.032, 95% CI: 0.008-0.057), 3 months (β=0.037, 95% CI: 0.013-0.062), 6 months (β=0.043, 95% CI: 0.017-0.068), 9 months (β=0.038, 95% CI: 0.013-0.063) and 12 months (β=0.034, 95% CI: 0.009-0.059), but not at 18 months and 24 months.
Conclusions:
Excessive gestational weight gain may affect offspring weight and increase the risk of obesity in children from birth to 12 months of age. During their second year of life, this effect will temporarily disappear.
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