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Prepregnancy overweight and obesity are associated with impaired child neurodevelopment
Elizabeth Marie Widen1,2,3, Linda Gross Kahn4, Piera Cirillo5
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
Insights
Maternal prepregnancy overweight and obesity were linked to lower child verbal recognition scores. Gestational weight gain did not impact child neurodevelopment outcomes in this study.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) are crucial factors influencing pregnancy outcomes.
- Child neurodevelopment is a complex process potentially affected by various prenatal environmental exposures.
- Understanding the long-term effects of maternal weight status on cognitive development is essential for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prepregnancy BMI and GWG with child neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 9 years.
- To determine if GWG modifies the relationship between prepregnancy BMI and child cognitive scores.
- To identify potential risks associated with maternal overweight and obesity during pregnancy for child cognitive development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a cohort of 2,084 mother-child dyads from the Child Health and Development Studies (1959-1966).
- Utilized linear regression to assess associations between prepregnancy BMI, GWG, and standardized cognitive tests (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Raven Progressive Matrices).
- Evaluated effect modification of GWG by prepregnancy BMI on child neurodevelopmental scores.
Main Results:
- Prepregnancy overweight and obesity were significantly associated with lower Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test scores (verbal recognition) in mid-childhood.
- No significant associations were found between GWG and child Peabody or Raven scores.
- Maternal BMI and GWG did not show significant associations with Raven Progressive Matrices scores (non-verbal reasoning).
Conclusions:
- Maternal prepregnancy overweight and obesity are linked to diminished verbal recognition abilities in children.
- Gestational weight gain did not demonstrate a significant impact on the neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed.
- Further research is warranted to explore the impact of higher prepregnancy BMI and specific GWG patterns on cognitive development.
Abstract:
The authors examined the relationship of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with child neurodevelopment. Mother-child dyads were a subgroup (n = 2,084) of the Child Health and Development Studies from the Oakland, California, area enrolled during pregnancy from 1959 to 1966 and followed at child age 9 years. Linear regression was used to examine associations between prepregnancy BMI, GWG, and standardized Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and Raven Progressive Matrices scores and to evaluate effect modification of GWG by prepregnancy BMI. Before pregnancy, 77% of women were normal weight, 8% were underweight, 11% were overweight, and 3% were obese. Associations between GWG and child outcomes did not vary by prepregnancy BMI, suggesting no evidence for interaction. In multivariable models, compared to normal prepregnancy BMI, prepregnancy overweight and obesity were associated with lower Peabody scores (b: -1.29; 95% CI [-2.6, -0.04] and b: -2.7; 95% CI [-5.0, -0.32], respectively). GWG was not associated with child Peabody score [b: -0.03 (95% CI: -0.13, 0.07)]. Maternal BMI and GWG were not associated with child Raven score (all P >0.05). Maternal prepregnancy overweight and obesity were associated with lower scores for verbal recognition in mid-childhood. These results contribute to evidence linking maternal BMI with child neurodevelopment. Future research should examine the role of higher prepregnancy BMI values and the pattern of pregnancy weight gain in child cognitive outcomes.
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