Maternal Prepregnancy Overweight: Associations With Maternal and Offspring Weight 4-7 Years Postpartum

Studies have shown that prepregnancy overweight and obesity can increase the risk of gestational complications. However, research on the medium- to short-term impact on mothers and their offspring is limited. This study is aimed at investigating the association between prepregnancy overweight and obesity and subsequent weight issues in mothers and their children, specifically focusing on the period spanning 4-7 years postpartum.

This prospective cohort study included 112 mother-child pairs recruited from Peking University International Hospital between 2017 and 2019. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were assessed in mothers and their offspring 4-7 years postpartum. Mothers also underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and assays for lipid, inflammatory, and adipokine markers. Based on prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), participants were classified into an overweight and obese group (n = 28) or an underweight and normal weight group (n = 84).

At 4-7 years postpartum, a higher proportion of mothers with prepregnancy overweight and obesity remained overweight (39.29%) or obese (39.29%), compared to mothers who were underweight and normal weight before pregnancy (13.10% overweight, 0% obese). Among offspring, the prevalence of obesity was higher in children of the overweight and obese maternal group (17.86% vs. 7.14%). After adjusting for various factors such as parity, gestational age, gestational weight gain, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), logistic regression analysis indicated that prepregnancy overweight and obesity were strongly associated with maternal overweight and obesity at follow-up (OR = 30.70, 95% CI: 8.69-108.51, p < 0.01) but not with offspring overweight and obesity (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 0.54-4.06, p = 0.440).

This study demonstrates a strong association between prepregnancy overweight and obesity and lasting weight issues 4-7 years postpartum, underscoring the importance of preconception weight management as a key preventive health strategy.