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Offspring-sex modifies the association between early-pregnancy adiposity and 2-year-old total physical activity - The
Eva Diaz1, David Williams1, E Howe
1University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Insights
Maternal adiposity in early pregnancy impacts offspring physical activity (PA) at age two. Girls with higher maternal fat mass index were less active than boys, highlighting sexual dimorphism in PA programming.
Area of Science:
- Human development and behavior
- Maternal and child health
- Exercise physiology
Background:
- Prenatal nutrition and maternal adiposity are hypothesized to influence offspring physical activity (PA) behaviors, a link not yet established in humans.
- This study investigates the association between maternal adiposity during early pregnancy and offspring PA at two years of age.
Approach:
- 153 pregnant women were enrolled early in pregnancy (<10 weeks).
- Maternal adiposity (fat mass index - FMI) and PA were measured at enrollment.
- Offspring PA, anthropometrics, and parental feeding practices were assessed at age two years.
Key Points:
- A significant interaction was found between maternal FMI and offspring sex regarding 2-year-old PA (p=0.030).
- Girls exhibited lower PA than boys when maternal FMI was ≥7 kg/m².
- Maternal PA during early pregnancy positively correlated with offspring PA (p=0.005).
Conclusions:
- Sexual dimorphism exists in the relationship between maternal adiposity and offspring PA.
- Girls born to mothers with higher adiposity (FMI ≥7 kg/m²) were less physically active.
- Early maternal PA is associated with increased offspring PA at age two.
Background:
Rodent models suggest that in utero exposure to under and overnutrition programs offspring physical activity (PA) behaviors. Such nexus has not been established in humans. This study evaluated the association of early pregnancy maternal adiposity with offspring PA at age 2 years (2-yo-PA) taking into consideration prenatal and postnatal factors.
Methods:
Women (n=153) were enrolled early in pregnancy (<10 weeks). At enrollment, maternal adiposity [air displacement plethysmography, fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2)] and PA (accelerometers, activity counts) were measured, and age, race, and education self-reported. Gestational weight gain was measured at the research facility. Offspring birthweight and sex were self-reported. At age 2 years, parental feeding practices (child feeding questionnaire) were assessed, whereas anthropometrics (length and weight) and physical activity (accelerometers) were objectively measured. Offspring body mass index z-scores were calculated. Generalized linear regression analysis modeled the association of maternal FMI and 2-yo-PA [average activity counts (AC)4/day].
Results:
There was an interaction between maternal FMI and offspring sex in association with 2-yo-PA (β= -1.03, p= 0.030). Specifically, 2-yo-PA was lower in girls compared to boys when maternal FMI was ≥7 kg/m2. Maternal PA early in pregnancy positively associated with 2-yo-PA (β= 0.21, p= 0.005). In addition, children born to women with college education tended to be more active compared to children born to women without college education (β= 3.46, p= 0.059).
Conclusions:
Sexual dimorphism was observed in the associations of maternal adiposity with 2-yo-PA, with girls being less active compared to boys only when maternal FMI was ≥7 kg/m2.
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