Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
Published on: May 17, 2024
Gestational weight gain, prepregnancy body mass index and offspring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms
S J Pugh1, J A Hutcheon2, G A Richardson1,3
1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Insights
Maternal obesity during pregnancy is linked to a slight increase in offspring behavioral issues, including attention problems. Gestational weight gain showed no significant impact on these child outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) are critical factors influencing pregnancy outcomes.
- Understanding their impact on offspring neurodevelopment and behavior is essential for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal GWG and pre-pregnancy BMI with offspring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and emotional/behavioral impairments at age 10.
- To assess the impact of maternal weight status on child behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal birth cohort study followed 511 mother-infant dyads from pregnancy to 10 years.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were recorded. Offspring ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Conners' Continuous Performance Test.
- Child behavior was evaluated using parent and teacher ratings on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form.
Main Results:
- Pre-pregnancy obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m² ) was associated with increased offspring internalizing behaviors (adjusted β 3.3), externalizing behaviors (adjusted β 2.9), and attention problems (adjusted β 2.3) on the CBCL, compared to normal weight mothers.
- No significant associations were found between GWG z-scores and offspring behavioral outcomes.
- Trends suggested potential links between GWG and impulsivity, but these were not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with a small increase in offspring behavioral problems, including internalizing, externalizing, and attention difficulties.
- These findings highlight the importance of maternal weight management for child behavioral health.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuanced relationship between GWG and specific child behavioral outcomes.
Objective:
To assess offspring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and emotional/behavioural impairments at age 10 years in relation to maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI).
Design And Setting:
Longitudinal birth cohort from Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (enrolled 1983-86).
Population:
Mother-infant dyads (n = 511) were followed through pregnancy to 10 years.
Methods:
Self-reported total GWG was converted to gestational-age-standardised z-scores. Multivariable linear and negative binomial regressions were used to estimate effects of GWG and BMI on outcomes.
Main Outcome Measures:
Child ADHD symptoms were assessed with the Conners' Continuous Performance Test. Child behaviour was assessed by parent and teacher ratings on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form, respectively.
Results:
The mean (SD) total GWG (kg) was 14.5 (5.9), and 10% of women had a pregravid BMI ≥30 kg/m2 . Prepregnancy obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m2 ) was associated with increased offspring problem behaviours including internalising behaviours (adjusted β 3.3 points, 95% CI 1.7-4.9), externalising behaviours (adjusted β 2.9 points, 95% CI 1.4-4.6), and attention problems (adjusted β 2.3 points, 95% CI 1.1-3.4) on the CBCL, compared with normal weight mothers (BMI of 22 kg/m2 ). There were nonsignificant trends towards increased offspring impulsivity with low GWG among lean mothers (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.2, 95% CI 0.9-1.5) and high GWG among overweight mothers (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.7, 95% CI 0.9-2.8), but additional outcomes did not differ by GWG z-score. Results were not meaningfully different after excluding high-substance users.
Conclusions:
In a low-income and high-risk sample, we observed a small increase in child behaviour problems among children of obese mothers, which could have an impact on child behaviour in the population.
Tweetable Abstract:
Maternal obesity is associated with a small increase in child behaviour problems.
More Related Videos
05:48The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
10:02Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
Published on: March 12, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:28Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
01:28Conduct Disorder