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Maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood overweight and fat distribution: the KOALA Birth Cohort Study

S H Timmermans1, M Mommers, J S Gubbels

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Pediatric Obesity
|January 31, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy leads to lower birth weight and weight catch-up, increasing the risk of childhood overweight. This association with body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution develops with age.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is linked to childhood overweight.
  • The impact on childhood fat distribution remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on childhood overweight.
  • To examine the association with childhood fat distribution.

Main Methods:

  • The KOALA Birth Cohort Study followed 2698 mother-child pairs.
  • Data collected via questionnaires and home visits.
  • Analyzed birth weight, BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness using regression and GEE.

Main Results:

  • Maternal smoking correlated with lower birth weight and increased weight gain in the first year.
  • Children of mothers who smoked had a higher risk of exceeding the 85th percentile for BMI, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness at school age.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with lower birth weight and subsequent weight catch-up.
  • This pattern contributes to the development of overweight in childhood and altered fat distribution.
Abstract

Keywords:
Childhood overweightfat distributionmaternal smokingprenatal programming

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