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Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring

Hye Won Park1,2, Tae-Eun Kim3, Sanghyun Park3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|November 15, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity before pregnancy increases offspring risks for epilepsy and intellectual disability. Preconception weight management is crucial for preventing neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Global rise in maternal obesity presents risks to child neurodevelopment.
  • Investigating the link between maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring.
  • Utilizing a large-scale South Korean national cohort for robust analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study using Korean National Health Information Database.
  • Maternal BMI categorized using Asia-Pacific guidelines; neurodevelopmental disorders identified via ICD-10 codes up to age five.
  • Multivariable regression models adjusted for neonatal and maternal covariates.

Main Results:

  • Analysis of 779,091 neonates revealed maternal obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0) is linked to increased epilepsy risk (aHR 1.13) and intellectual disability (aHR 1.37).
  • No significant association found between maternal underweight status (BMI < 18.5) and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Elevated maternal BMI prior to conception independently associated with higher risks of offspring epilepsy and intellectual disability.

Conclusions:

  • Findings highlight the importance of preconception weight management for maternal health.
  • Supports public health initiatives aimed at reducing neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to mothers with overweight or obesity.
Abstract

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