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Maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: a meta-analysis

C E Sanchez1, C Barry1, A Sabhlok1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|November 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity increase the risk of adverse child neurodevelopmental outcomes. This includes conditions like ADHD, autism, developmental delay, and behavioral issues, highlighting a significant public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Maternal overweight and obesity are prevalent globally, particularly among women of childbearing age.
  • Child neurodevelopmental outcomes are influenced by various prenatal factors, including maternal health status.
  • Understanding the impact of maternal pre-pregnancy weight on child development is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence linking maternal pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity to child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To quantify the risk of specific neurodevelopmental disorders associated with maternal pre-pregnancy weight status.
  • To assess the public health implications of maternal obesity on child neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of PubMed and PsycINFO databases for empirical studies published before April 2017.
  • Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining the association between maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and child neurodevelopment.
  • Meta-analysis of 32 articles representing 36 cohorts to determine pooled odds ratios and confidence intervals.

Main Results:

  • Children of mothers who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy showed increased risks for compromised neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with significantly higher odds of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (OR=1.62), autism spectrum disorder (OR=1.36), developmental delay (OR=1.58), and emotional/behavioural problems (OR=1.42).
  • Overweight mothers (OR=1.17) and obese mothers (OR=1.51) both had increased risks compared to normal weight mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for adverse child neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • The high prevalence of obesity underscores the substantial public health burden associated with these findings.
  • Interventions targeting maternal weight management before pregnancy may be critical for improving child neurodevelopmental health.

Keywords:
Child neurodevelopmentmaternal weightmeta-analysisprenatal obesity

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