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Self-reported periconception weight loss attempts do not alter infant body composition.

Kristine Matusiak1, Helen L Barrett2, Karin Lust3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Australia.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
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Maternal attempts to lose weight before conception did not significantly alter infant body composition. However, increased abdominal circumference in infants may signal future metabolic risks.

Keywords:
Body compositionInfantPericonceptionPrepregnancy BMISexWeight loss

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Maternal obesity is linked to adverse infant outcomes, necessitating pre-conception body mass index optimization.
  • Periconceptional maternal weight loss has raised concerns regarding potential adverse fetal outcomes, including altered body composition, based on animal studies.
  • Human data on the effects of periconceptional weight loss on infant body composition remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of maternal weight loss attempts during the periconception period on infant body composition.
  • To compare body composition parameters in infants born to mothers who attempted to lose weight versus those who maintained weight preconceptionally.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 73 women who delivered healthy term infants.
  • Infant body composition assessed using air displacement plethysmography and anthropometric measurements.
  • Mothers categorized based on attempts to lose or maintain weight in the periconception period.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in infant birth weight, percent body fat, or head and arm circumference between groups.
  • Infant abdominal circumference was notably increased in the offspring of mothers who attempted weight loss.
  • Elevated infant percent body fat was observed in female infants and those born to overweight or obese mothers.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal weight loss attempts in the periconception period did not significantly alter overall infant body composition.
  • The observed increase in infant abdominal circumference suggests potential alterations in fat distribution.
  • This altered fat distribution may be associated with an increased risk for future metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in offspring.