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Risk of early childhood overweight/obesity following cesarean section: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chuhui Zhou1, Linghong Tang1, Lepeng Zhou1

  • 1School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
|June 16, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Cesarean section delivery increases the risk of childhood overweight and obesity. This systematic review found a significant association between cesarean birth and higher rates of overweight/obesity in children up to six years old.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cesarean section is a potential risk factor for early childhood overweight/obesity.
  • The exact magnitude of this risk is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and estimate the risk of overweight/obesity in children delivered via cesarean section.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of twenty cohort studies.
  • Searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases.
  • Assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Results:

  • Cesarean delivery was associated with a significantly increased risk of early childhood overweight/obesity (RR 1.18).
  • Increased risks were observed for overweight (RR 1.11) and obesity (RR 1.23) compared to vaginal delivery.
  • Subgroup analyses indicated low heterogeneity across studies.

Conclusions:

  • Children born via cesarean section may face a higher risk of developing overweight/obesity in early childhood.
  • Delivery mode can impact long-term child health outcomes.
  • Highlights the need for further research into the mechanisms linking cesarean delivery to childhood obesity.
Abstract

Keywords:
cesarean sectionearly childhoodmeta‐analysisoverweight/obesitysystematic review

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