Do Lifestyle Interventions in Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity Have an Effect on Neonatal Adiposity? A
Naiara F Baroni1, Nayara R Baldoni2,3, Geisa C S Alves2,4
1Graduate Program in Public Health, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Lifestyle interventions for pregnant women with overweight or obesity did not significantly impact neonatal adiposity. Further research is needed in diverse populations and settings to confirm these findings on infant body fat.
Area of Science:
- Maternal-fetal medicine
- Public health
- Pediatric obesity prevention
Background:
- Excessive body fat at birth is a significant risk factor for childhood obesity.
- Neonatal adiposity influences long-term health outcomes.
- Effective interventions during pregnancy are crucial for preventing pediatric obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the effect of lifestyle interventions in pregnant women with overweight or obesity on neonatal adiposity.
- To synthesize evidence from randomized clinical trials on maternal lifestyle interventions and infant body fat.
- To assess the impact of interventions on reducing the risk of neonatal obesity.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
- Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, LILACS).
- Included studies on pregnant women with overweight/obesity and neonatal adiposity outcomes; assessed risk of bias using Cochrane criteria.
Main Results:
- Four studies (n=1494) were included in the analysis.
- Lifestyle interventions showed no significant effect on neonatal adiposity (MD = -0.21, CI = -0.92 to 0.50).
- Evidence quality was low according to GRADE, with significant heterogeneity (56%).
Conclusions:
- Current lifestyle interventions for pregnant women with overweight or obesity do not appear to reduce neonatal adiposity.
- Further research is required in low- and medium-developed countries and diverse ethnic-racial populations.
- Investigating tailored interventions may be necessary to impact neonatal body composition.
Abstract:
Excessive body fat at birth is a risk factor for the development of childhood obesity. The aim of the present systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect of lifestyle interventions in pregnant women with overweight or obesity on neonatal adiposity. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS databases were used as information sources. Original articles from randomized clinical trials of lifestyle intervention studies on pregnant women with excessive body weight and the effect on neonatal adiposity were considered eligible. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane criteria. The meta-analysis was calculated using the inverse variance for continuous data expressed as mean difference (MD), using the random effect model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The outcomes were submitted to the GRADE evaluation. Of 2877 studies, four were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis (n = 1494). All studies were conducted in developed countries, with three including pregnant women with overweight or obesity, and one only pregnant women with obesity. The interventions had no effect on neonatal adiposity [Heterogeneity = 56%, MD = -0.21, CI = (-0.92, 0.50)] with low confidence in the evidence, according to GRADE. Studies are needed in low- and medium-developed countries with different ethnic-racial populations. PROSPERO (CRD42020152489).
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