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Excess body weight during pregnancy and offspring obesity: potential mechanisms
Oleg Paliy1, Chandrika J Piyathilake2, Anita Kozyrskyj3
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, USA.
Insights
Maternal obesity increases offspring obesity risk through various factors like diet and gut microbiota, potentially creating an intergenerational cycle. Understanding these links is crucial for public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Child and adult obesity rates have risen globally.
- Obesity is linked to physical health issues (diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and mental health concerns (depression).
- Infant weight and early weight gain predict later-life obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mechanisms linking maternal obesity to offspring obesity.
- To explore the intergenerational cycle of obesity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current scientific knowledge.
- Analysis of factors influenced by maternal weight during and after pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Maternal obesity influences offspring risk via diet, delivery mode, feeding practices, and breast milk.
- Maternal weight impacts infant gut microbiota composition.
- These factors contribute to an intergenerational obesity cycle.
Conclusions:
- Maternal factors significantly influence offspring obesity risk.
- Interventions targeting maternal weight may disrupt the intergenerational obesity cycle.
- Further research into these mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract:
The rates of child and adult obesity have increased in most developed countries over the past several decades. The health consequences of obesity affect both physical and mental health, and the excess body weight can be linked to an elevated risk for developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and depression. Among the factors that can influence the development of obesity are higher infant weights and increased weight gain, which are associated with higher risk for excess body weight later in life. In turn, mother's excess body weight during and after pregnancy can be linked to the risk for offspring overweight and obesity through dietary habits, mode of delivery and feeding, breast milk composition, and through the influence on infant gut microbiota. This review considers current knowledge of these potential mechanisms that threaten to create an intergenerational cycle of obesity.
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