The Effect of Maternal Bariatric Surgery on Offspring Anthropometry: A Mixed Cohort

Raheleh Moradi1, Maryam Navaee1, Negar Zamaninour1

  • 1Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Obesity Surgery
|June 14, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal bariatric surgery may impact offspring growth, with lower birth weight and BMI observed. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects on childhood development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • Bariatric surgery reduces obesity complications but may pose risks to fetal growth due to maternal nutritional changes.
  • Understanding the impact of maternal bariatric surgery on offspring development is crucial for prenatal and postnatal care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of maternal bariatric surgery on anthropometric measurements in children up to five years of age.
  • To compare offspring anthropometry between mothers with a history of bariatric surgery and those with obesity but no surgical history.

Main Methods:

  • A mixed-cohort study comparing children (≤5 years) born to mothers who underwent bariatric surgery versus a control group (mothers with obesity, no surgery).
  • Anthropometric indices (weight, height, BMI, head circumference) were measured at birth and up to age five.
  • Linear regression analysis was used to determine the adjusted effect of maternal surgical history on offspring anthropometry.

Main Results:

  • Children born to mothers with bariatric surgery had significantly lower birth weight (2915g vs 3225g) and BMI (11.72 vs 12.94 kg/m²).
  • After adjustment, a significant difference was found in height-for-age z-scores for children under five (B=0.872, P=0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal bariatric surgery is associated with reduced birth weight and BMI, potentially influencing subsequent growth.
  • Further investigation into the specific effects of different types of preconception bariatric procedures on childhood outcomes is recommended.
Abstract