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Ascending Growth is Associated with Offspring Adiposity in Pregnancies Complicated with Obesity or Gestational

Emilia Huvinen1, Anna-Kaisa Tuomaala2, Paula H Bergman3

  • 1Teratology Information Service, Emergency Medicine, Department of Prehospital Emergency Care, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Accelerated early growth in children from high-risk pregnancies is linked to increased childhood adiposity. Promoting breastfeeding and reducing cesarean births may support healthier postnatal growth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Early childhood growth patterns are linked to later adiposity.
  • The influence of lifestyle factors on this association, particularly in high-risk pregnancies, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between growth profiles in children born to mothers with high-risk pregnancies and their adiposity at age 5.
  • To assess the impact of lifestyle and antenatal/postnatal exposures on this association.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 609 children from the Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL).
  • Latent class mixed models were used to identify growth profiles based on ponderal index.
  • Adiposity was measured using anthropometrics and body composition analysis at age 5.

Main Results:

  • Three growth profiles were identified: ascending, intermediate, and descending.
  • Children with ascending growth profiles exhibited higher body fat percentage, ISO-BMI, and waist circumference at age 5.
  • Ascending and intermediate growth profiles were associated with higher adiposity, even after adjusting for lifestyle factors and prepregnancy BMI. Meeting lifestyle intervention goals and exclusive breastfeeding for 3+ months were associated with lower odds of ascending growth.

Conclusions:

  • Accelerated early growth in children from high-risk pregnancies is associated with increased adiposity at age 5.
  • Lifestyle factors did not fully explain this association.
  • Recommendations include promoting breastfeeding and reducing cesarean deliveries to potentially improve postnatal growth outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
body compositionchildhood obesityearly growthfetal programminggestational diabeteslifestyle

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